The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-08-20
!, ozerlal.e /. and .alrklasg gllsa lloser .sshs Y he

uoau. n bnhrp repOr6, anu ono Oatut
whirling down 8eM bt.1ai
"Sec, Marden," said Mercer, pointing
to tho bird which first attracted his at
tention and which now came huttering
helplessly to earth, displaying an arrow
sticking in its breast, ''the redslin who
sped that shaft is not far of, for the
bird could not have flown far with such
o wound.' ys'aea ,sl 4a .,bfl3l
"0ur retreat Is cut OFF, exclaimed
Marden, impetuously. .aa,o
NO" responded the commandant Of
the fort, with Puritan solemnity. "Our
trust is in Cod" ~
"Let us DO thankful, however, that
the Mingo's arrow has given warning OF
his presence and added q fat goosc to
the oommissariat department. said
Mardon, cheerfully. ss
The drums beat for parade and drill,
and the soldiers Of New England began
to form by companies on the level
ground in front Of the fort.
Injured to hardship and danger from
infancy, the men, though young, were
|
native forest and the Frenchman In the
open field. True to their homo train
ing they were grave and decorous in
their department, and whether on the
march or In garrison, no profane Jest or
ribald song mingled with the toll or
idleness Of the Puritan soldiers. %.
After parade the men amused them
selves with athletic exercises til sun
set, when the sound OF a bugle brought
them within the walls and the gates
were closed for the night. As the even
ing deoponed and the stars came out,
the surroundings OF this isolated strong
hold became more marked in their saw
age sternness. Tho forest rose like
black, impenetrable WALL forming
semicircle, the extremes OF which
touched the lake; the dark river gliding
between fort and block-house and
catching evanoscent beams Of light from
the windows and loop-holes Of those
dim and ghostly sentinels of q plutonian
shore.
The shadow OF dream without its
silence. The never-ceasing wash Of the
waves upon the strand, the crash and
grinding OF the ice foes, the signing Of
the wind in the tree-tops, and the bay
ing OF wolves in pursuit of prey, lent q
demoniac reality to tho picture.
Tho interior o. the block-house pre-.
sented scene in strong contrast TO that
without. BY the light OF a FIRE Of resin
ous pine women wero knitting, children
sleeping peacefully on blankets or bear
skins, while men smoked and told
stories OF adventure or speculated on
the probabilities OF tho future II the
royal troops should or should not come
to their relief
'f''I wish ii was Colonel Washington
and his rangers instead OF them sassy
red coats that was coming. The grass
wouldn't grow under lis feet. ~ /
"Mihd, don'tdoubt that we can whip
the Frenchmen ourselves, and then I |
vote that We go and hunt up the En-
glish troops and lick them for not getting
here in time" This suggestion was
fayorably received, the popular belief
being that one ranger was q match for
three Englishmen. aIol ,daan.
81 served under johnson at Crown
Point" continued the speaker,
weather-beaten and soldier-like man.
General Dieskan commanded the
French and Indians, and, IL we had
been English troops, led by thick
headed English officers, l wouldn't be
here TO tell the story. As 1t was, we
fell into an ambuscade and the advance
guard was thrown into confusion. John.
son said he was wounded, but he wasn't
hurt bad enough 10 stop him from run
ming away. But we didn't miss him,
for Lyman was there, cool and quiet as
IL he didn't think It was much OF
shower after all. Tho Indians we're
firing under cover, and the Frenchmen
coming on In line OF battle with bay
onets at the charge. 1t was ticklish
moment; but Lyman called to the
stragglers 10 drop, and the front rank
fired over them. II was the French
mans turn then. Then Charley Sell
wyn gathered up the stragglers and
charged the Indians In the woods, driv-
Ing them out and piling them ON TO the
French, while our main body poured
volley after volley into the struggling
mass. But Dieskan was lion, and he
few around among his men, and while
the Indians sllulkod TO the rear, firing
at US as they went, he got his regulars
Into order and led them TO the charge
him self, shouting: En- avsnt, mes en-
fansl Vive 10 Francer Tho men took
up the cry, and came on shouting; 'vive
10 Franeer r.r gg...g II
'But we stood firm; our front rank
knelt the second stopped and tho
third fired over their shoulders, and
poured storm OF bullets into them at
hort range. Their front rank and most
81 the second fell In piles. Dieskah
himself staggered, ran q few PAGES,
FALLING, TO his mon 70 follow, and
tumbled head first on tho ground, which
was wet With blood. Then the French
line wayered, and Lyman led US 10 the
,harge. The French tried to rescue
heir leader, but our boys, firing as
hey advanced, drove them back, and
3eorge Marden captured two OF their
,annon and turned then on their
,wners. Then they began TO break,
md although they kept up a running
lght for awhile, they finally gave itup.
We took lot Of prisoners and boat
oads Of arms, and Lyman said we had
yained great victory and that King
loorge would thank US for It." al l.
"Tut he didn't, did be, JabeY7 asked