Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-06-20

1ettf. Ine uOS is as wise as al CnrlSC-
ian, and deal wi r than many besides.
l have waistCoat here that belongs to
Jerry. If show him that it is all right;
he loves Jerry, and knows that he is at
the head station. The only difficulty is.
will the black fellows wait long enough
before they fire the hut, SO as to allow Of
help coming? 1t is doubtful, but we can
only try. We are in God hands, sir ="
True, replied Mr.. Ashby, as he hand
ed the letter to his faithful servant The
master said no more, but could see that
his heart was full. All, his dear Young
WIFE his blue eyed little ones! Would
he ever see them more?
There was certainly no time to lose. l
could see the dark figures of the natives
dodging round the hut, evidently think
ing that since we had ceased firing our
ammunition must be totally expended
but it was not so, we had each of us one
bullet left, but only one, which we were
keeping for emergencies or for the final
scrimmage Meanwhile Long Peter had
pulled away half rotten slab from be-
hind his bunk, thus making hole suff-
ciently large for Bouncer to creep through.
He then fastened the letter securely to his
collar, the noble animal giving now and
then a suppressed whine, and trembling
from head to foot with anxiety. He had
smelt at Jerry's waistcoat and quite un-
derstood what was expected of him. l
could not bear to look at Long Peter at
this moment. His features were work.
ing with emotion, and could have sworn
that there were tears in his eyes; but he
said nothing. Everything being now
ready, he led Bouncer to the hole, held
his muzzle for moment pressed hard be-
tween his hands, while he gazed into the
creatures expressive eyes. Now, go,
good dog, he whispered, and squeezing
himself through the hole Bouncer sped
away on noiseless feet.
Welstened intently for few minutes;
oh, how we listened! our faces blanched
and our limbs trembling. Had Bouncer
escaped away on his weighty errand with
out being discovered? Alas, no! sud
den wild jabbering rose on the night air,
rush of many feet, and the next instant
we detected yelp of pain.
They have surely speared him!" whis-
pered Mr.. Ashhy.
But Long Peter turned on him almost
in anger. No, no, sir, he said, she is
just scratched. He'll do it yet, know
he Wilt"
He must be quick, then, replied the
master, "for those cursed savages have
struck a light somehow; they mean to
burn us out, looh!'
Our eyes We're now intently watching
g IL. l. ell
the loopholes. and we had not watched
long till we saw flaming brand whizz-
ing through the air, till it fell upon the
stringy bark roof above our heads. An
other and another Immediately followed;
still it did not seem to us that any of
them had taken effect
Garry up bucket of water through
the trap door and pour it over the roof"
whispered the master to me: "but take
care of yourself; don't let them see you.
| did as was directed, and thoroughly
drenched the roof, but while thus en-
gagged l heard a shout from below. 1t
was Mr.. Ashby's voice:
"Come down, Jem; come quickly"
he cried, and l ratified down the ladder
with sinking heart Long Peter lay on
the floor of the hut white and gasping;
spear had entered one of the loopholes
and pinned him through the thigh. In
response to my groan of utter dismay
the good fellow struggled into sitting
posture.
"Never mind me, Jem," he said
fight it out to the last. Take my gun,
there is one charge in it yet; but first
drag me into that corner"
obeyed in silence, handed him pan
nikin of cold tea and then took my place
by Mr.. Ashby's side. Look out, ;" he
whispered, 81 mean to fire at their ring
leader-that man with the blazing log in
his hand-I fear he has already fired the
roof. l hear it cracking; but it scarcely
matters now, the end is not far off. We
are doomed" As he spoke these despair
ing words Mr.. Ashby fired, his bullet
bringing down the man aimed at, who,
with wild screech, fell to the ground.
There was pause of CONSERVATION over
this anda hurried talk among the savages
outside; then, with wild yells, the whole
force of the besiegers rushed on our little
garrison. A moments surging round
the door, then it gave way with crash
Mr.. Ashbys gun swinging on the crowd
of savages with terrific force, telling two
of them like oxen. / can scarcely de-
scribe what followed. There was wild
struggle with our guns and our fists;
then two black fellows forced me to the
ground one was shortening his grasp OF
his spear to drive it through my body,
when he suddenly fell on top of me dead,
felled by the butt end of Mr.. Ashby's gun.
But | knew little more; dimly l seemed
to hear loud hurrah from outside, fol-
lowed by the cracking of rifles; then
every sound died away into utter silence.
well, declare, you have had bit of
scrimmage, and here's poor Jem about
done for!" 1t was the voice of Jerry,
who was dragging away the dead body
of my assailant from off my chest.
mo, l am not dead l said feebly
enough; mot even wounded, though half
choked with blood that is not my own.
Where is the master? and, oh, go and
look after Long Peter! He is terribly
hurt, know"
"The other chaps are attending to him,
said Jerry land as for the master, he
says he is all right; he won't own to a
single scratch; he is game one, he is.
Well have you all carried to the Home
Station afore breakfast time, see if we
don't. But you should have seen that
dog of Peters. Why his feet was all
skinned and raw, and he had an ugly