Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-08-17


ing, "How How ! Don't shoot me
60 away" crawled of. They let
him 60, and after working himself
down the hill a little way two In
dams took him up anil carried him
oil.
The Indians now packed up
everything, and driving the cattle
before them started OIL down the
valley.
"Tbank God, they are gOne,"
said Mrs. Maxwell.
"NOt So replied Maxwell; "that
is only a rose to get US Of our
guard but we have q little time,
so, mother, you and May get us
something to eat.'
Pretty soon some Of the cattle
we're seen coming back, as If they
had broken away from the Indians,
and one of the men wanted to go
out and drive them in.
"Oh, no, n said Maxwell, "thst IS
only another ruse OF the willy ras-
Gals to get us out of here. They are
close behind the cattle, depend up.
on it," The cattle were kept close
around the fort nearly all forenoon,
but not an Indian was to be seen.
All efforts to draw out the little
garrison, however, proved futile.
Then a signal was thrown up, and
Mr.. Maxwell said;
"They are sending for help, boys,
and we will soon have 1t hot and
heavy. Here, mother you and May
keep we'll within the cave, but get
some water and be ready TO load
and cool the guns"
In a few moments an unearthly
yell rose up from the rsyine, and the
Indians charged that side Of the
fort. They we're easily repulsed,
but soon dashed at the other side
of the fort, riding and firing. The
men in the fort let them ride aid
fire as fast and as much as they
wanted, lying close within their
snug breastworks. Pretty soon the
Indis MS drew off and commenced
throwing up signal lights.
1--WE shall have it now said
Maxwell. "Keep cool and watt
In about an hour a long line OF
Indians were seen coming up from
the south to join the others.
"There they are" said Maxwell,
"and if that is all there is Of them
we will soon lift their hair" 1t
was a brave expression, but the
men knew only too we'll it was made
to keep their courage up, for there
we're at least ten Indians for every
white man in the fort, and as blood
thirsty looking set of red devils
as ever rode the PLAINS or scalped q
white man.
They rode down quite close to the
fort and called out: "How! How !!
Come out and give upw
mot much, "cried Maxwell. ave
have been waiting for you to come.
Why have you been 90 longi Come
on; we are spelling for fight; but
mind you, no more gets of. / want
at least ten scaIps."
The Indians dismounted and be-
gan crawling toward the fort. The
grass was high and gave them
good shelter. awe must not let
them get too close" said Maxwell,
''ior there are too many of them.
Pick out man each OF yon, CON-
mencing on the right. There is q
fellow lattening himself on the
earth. l think l can get him,
though he is about as thin as a
pane of window glass and - long
as a willow" He took careful aim
and fired. and the savage sprang
up and then pitched forward on
his face and lay still.
CHE is down." cried Maxwell,
''and now for the rest, boys"
The Indians had opened, and
the firing soon became general.
For two hours it went on without
intermission. The Indians worked
up nearer and nearer to the fort
despite of all the resistance of the
little garrison. For three hours
nothing could be heard but the
noise of the guns, the yelling of the
white men and Indians, and the
cries of the women. Maxwell and
his men fought like lions. Mrs.
Maxwell loaded and cooled the
guns, and May went about among
the men, helping her mother and
carrying the men water and food.
After five hours hard fighting the
Indians drew of, held . council,
and they went into camp. They
divided into two parties, one party
encamping on each side of the fort,
so as to prevent the garrison from
escaping during the night. Sever
al of the Indians came down quite
close to the fort in the evening and
wanted to talk, but the white men
called out "Go awayl Go away
Old Maxwell is getting mad" One
bold fellow rode up quite near,
when Maxwell seized q gun aud
shot him, sending him back to the
rear bowling with pain.
"Lie close, boys, and shoot every
one that approaches" said Max
we'll. Night shut down on the BE-