Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-01-25

within seventy yards, when they stopped
and commenced n wild firing upon tho
fort, Tie balls from their rifles pattering
upon the sides and roof, but doing no
damage.
The brave lady. with her n compau-
on In arms and surrounded by tho two
ooys. who each grasped q cartridge. sent
q reply In the shape of q volley from their
rifles which took effect upon one Of the
enemy. A fusilade was kept up on both
sides for some minutes, tine gallant little
band inside being untouched. but several
of the besiegers had been wounded and
their fury was raised to Il frenzy as they
wcrc met by a CALLING fire, try what quar-.
ter Of the building they would Again
they retired to consult, and as n result
mounted their horses and. followed By the
footnen. rode away. The brave woman,
almost exhausted by the great physical
strain that had been put upon her. found
vent in q food of tears as she threw her
self into the arms Of her boys and. grasp
ing tie hand of their brave ally, they
sank upon tho ground and rave thanks
for their preservation. But they know
the craftiness and hate or The savage too
well not 20 bc aware that the worst was
not yet over aud that the band would re
turn, perhaps with reenf6rccnents. and
attack them.
That day passed in anxiety, but no
enemy appeared ard night fell, end still
there was no sign of their foes. The faith
rul Fingro urged them to rest while no
watched, and thus tho night passed until
the first blush of dawn showed itself in
tho cast, when The watcher awakened his
mistress and quietly told her 10 prepare
for another onslaught. His eyes had not
mistaken the indistinct figures that he
caught a glimpse Of in the darkness, for
hardly had the besicgcd reached their
posts when they werU Gssailcd with a
heavy fire Of bullets. and In the uncer.
tain light they saw a large number of the
elentless katilrs making n rush towards
hem. Their rifles cracked time and time
again as they emptied the contents at the
.dvGncing savuges. now scarcely twenty
yards distant, but these did not waver,
they hurled themselves against the bar
.icadcs. which they cndeavored to boat
lown, and some, having lit torches, throw
them upon the matched roof of the build
ing. setting it on fire and adding another
terrible phase to their already desperate
condition. Tho poor mother was now al.
most driven TO despair; the new danger
threatened destruction. But again the he
ro.o boy Cd to the rescue. Bidding his
lister take Ills place at the cartridge box
lie moved towards tho kitchen of the
building. which was in the rear. and. peep
ing through tho loop hole, r~econnoitered
The enemy had retired, waiting for the
ire TO do tho work for them, and the lad.
having assured himself that no one was
lurking around. crept out with q pail Of
water and. cropping his way towards where
lhc nearest torch Ind been thrown.
omptied the contents upon it and re
turned. Twice lie did this. and was
emerging Il third time, when he was
Taspcd by the throat by II huge Kafir,
who dragged him away towards the ut
lacking baud.
The appearance of the Eaflr with his
captive was the signal for q wild yell and
with tho trembling boy inthcir midst they
dashed onco moro towards the house. The
,lorror of the now frantic Tothcr was ter
.iblc, rs in the fast approaching daylight
she recognized her boy In the hands of
eheso monsters. Moreover, she dared
not shoot for fear Of ~wounding her
son, who called out to his
mother Ito shoot and not to mind
iim." Tho Kaffrs, brandishing their
assegais around the boy. sworc that ii the
besieged did not surrender he shoui9
20 butchered in front of his mothers eyes
md one already pressed the point of his
spear against the boys chest. The grief
Of tho woman was henrtrending. and it
was with difficulty that she could be dis.
shaded from rushing forth towards her
son, but her agony was shor lived. Even
s she wavered there arose upon tho
morning air u gathering Of hoofs, and,
before the savages could recover from
their surprise. with Il hearty cheer and
sabers raised aloft. there dashed into
their midst 4 party Of Cape Mounted
Rides. IL was a case of ''sauvo quo
peut." and the enemy broke and 1od.
A bloody war followed. IL which many
dccds Of valor were done. but none that
outshone tho defense of the bravo womGn
ut tho ldutche.-Fred u. browning in
Philadelphia Times.