Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-12-18
NUMBER 43.

deck with their Blankets around them,
20 protect them from the heavy dew.
LET them Sleep" muttered Jabe;
'it's good for them, and sign thas
they've got no fever. But where to
steer for, can't decide for myself, and
there's no hurry about it as long as the
enemy is engaged somewhere else. Yes,
Nellie, all safe so far"
This remark was addressed to his
wife, whose head appeared above the
hatchway. What sound is that,
Jabe?" she asked, as the dull boom of
the distant cannonade reached her ear.
ITS the French pounding the old
fort" he growled between his teeth.
"And what's that moving by the
shore yonder?' she cried, in sudden
alarm.
Jabe, following her glance, saw sew
eral objects on the shore and in the
water ahead of them, which he soon
made out to be human figures. Red
skins" he muttered, land they're get
ting into their canoes They want 20
know who we are, and they'll soon find
out, if they come within range. But
don't be afraid, Nellie; we can outsail
them"
Whats the matter, Jabe?" asked the
New Englander eoolly shaking himself
out of his blanket.
Jabe pointed to the shore. What do
you make of them, Eph?" he asked.
keep her away a point or two" re-
sponded the fisherman; they can't
overhaul us with this breeze"
The other two men were awake now,
and the women crowded into the hatch
way with pale faces fixed their eyes on
the point of interest. 1t was evident
that the sayages were resolved to make
their acquaintance, probably taking
them for Frenchmen, and Jabe, believ-
ing that to change the course of tho
vessel would excite their suspicion, kept
on, trusting to superior speed to prevent
their too near approach.
"See to tho rifles, Eph,' he said, land
you women go below" The latter
obeyed reluctantly, and the men pre-
pared to fight their way II necessary.
"See if you can find a French flag down
there" Eph called down the hatch
way, MAY be the red devils will know
what 1t means and think we're French
men"
A French pennon was found and
hoisted to the topmast where it hut-
tered in the breeze.
"Blast their red hidesl' muttered
Jabe. They're not satisfied"
ono, nor they won't be till they get a
dose Of lead, " said Eph. "Sce. they're
hosting their blankets for sailsl''
1t seemed as If the frail barks would
capsizc under the pressure Of the broad
sails; but they carried for ballast five
or six men each. and danced over the
short curling waves like flock of water
fowl. They were making for pointer
actly in the course of the fugitives.
I'VE must take the risk, boys. and
run right through them, said Jabe, res
olutely, 'and il the breeze holds an
hour longer well outsail them"
Give me the helm" said the fisher
man.
"All right, you know more about
steering than | do" responded Jabe;
land now lads, lay low and don't waste
a shot"
The Indians, having gained their posi-
ton, lowered their sails and awaited
the approach of the gun boat, unwilling
to fro while they had a doubt OF its
nationality. Eph sumised the cause
of their quietudc, and gesticulated
wildly with his disengaged hand after
the supposed manner Of Frenchmen,
and shouted out his small vocabulary of
French and indian words without re-
gard to their fitness, until within a few
yards distance Of the nearest canoe, he