The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08


forehead, and the pursuit was all sham.
Before he had left tie woods, four of five
Indians had made detour and softly
approached the house, so as to be ready
to leap in when the bar came down from
the door. 1t wss not grandmother's wit,
but the If own haste in leaplng out, which
had prevented the capture OF the house
and her death.
The savages then tried another plan.
| They brought the old man out OF the
woods, naked except his shirt. tied him to
a wild plum tree just out of rifle range of
the house. and then set about msltreat
| ing hirp, hoping to work en- the woman's
| sympstbies. Grandmother could see
every movemei made, and che was nearly
crezed to see them assault the old man
with knives and clubs. They pricked
him until he wss covere ed with blood,
though not seriously wounded in eny spot,
and, cutting a number of switches from
the hezel brushes, they whipped him until
they we're tired with the sport. The old
man grosned little, but they could not
make him cry out, as they hoped to do;
and in his heart he hoped that grand
mother WI uld not be imprudent enough
to attempt any interference. Her heart
big with sympathy and distress and her
| eyes full OF tears. the woman allowed the
savages to get head OF Der. Several of
them moved back out OF the range of the
knot hole, skulked around to the north
side of the cabin, and grandmotht RS first
iDtimstion of their presence was when
she heard the cracking of flames in the
brush which they has previously piled
| against the north door. AS soon as the
flames were lighted the ssvages drew off
a few rods and commenced shooting at
the spot over the door where she had
pulled out the climbing to shoot at them
before. Notwith standing the whietling
of the balls which every moment came
through il to the garnet, the woman
mounted the ladder with pail OF water,
dashed the contents out through the
crevice, and mere accident guided the
dash SO that the flames were drowned
out.
Two hours lad passed since the first
appearance Of the Indisne; grandmother
had killed one and wounded others, and
such firing and yelling had been kept
up that the redskins were fearful that
help might come to the woman, and there.
fore they withdrew. She counted them
IS they went away, to be sure that none
were left behind. They took the dead
one on their shoulders, and the wounded
his companions. They entered the woods,
and sitter an honr had passed without
their temperance, grandmother realized
that all danger to her was over. She
opened the door, took a scout around her
house, and then her eyes fell upon the
horses. The animals had made long
run when first taking fright, going across
the fields for mile or more, and were
now coming toward the house, dragging
a portion of the piow after them. In ten
minutes the woman was galloping toward
the nearest settlement carrying both rifle
and revolver. A ride Of an hour brought
| her to the hamlet, and seven or eight
men quickly mounted their horses and
returned with her. The cabin had not
been disturbed, and leaving their horses
there, the men, headed by the anxious
and tireless woman took up the trail of
Indians. Following it for an hour, nearly
always en- the rup, they suddenly heard
the report of rifles, followed by whoops
and yells.
Two bachelors named Turner had
cabin and farm in the direction of the
shots, and the pursuers realized that the
Indians had attacked them. They were
hurrying on to the rescue, grandmother
leading, rifle in hand, when she suddenly
gave sign of warning, and all sank
down. She had caught sight of grand
father and his two guards. Through the
sparse timber the men could see grand
father bound to tree, and his guards
standing near by, bat their races turned
in the direction of the battle which was
raging beyond.
Like so many tigers the pursuers crept
forward, and only halted when within
eight or ten rods of the captive. They
silently arranged for a volley which
should riddle the bodies of the guards,
and would have delivered it in moment
more but for grandfather. He caught
sight of them, and his JOY was so gre at
that he could not repress loud shout.
The indians turned on hearing if, and
also catching sight of the pursuers, gave
yell and darted away. A volley was
fred as they fed, and the one behind
made great leap into the air and fell
over log, four or five bullets having
struck him in the head.
The other one ran directly for his COM
panions, and his news raised the siege of
the Turner cabin in moment. Finding
that revengetul foe was on their trail,
the Indians made all haste out OF the
neighborhood and could not be over
taken.
Grandfather was like child when re.
leased. He laughed and cried by turns,
threw his arms around grandmother,
shook hands with the men and acted like
one gone crazy. He had been cruelty
used by the red rsscals and was SO weak