The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-01
ghe aahia 1ai1y eagle: griday gorning Ebay L. 1891.

| in his eyes; but he said nothing. Every
thing being now ready he led Bouncer to
| the hole, held his muzzle for a moment
pressed hard between his hands, while
he gazed into the creatures expressive
eyes. "Now go, good dog" he whis-
pered; and squeezing himself through
the hole Bouncer sped away on noiseless
feet.
We listened intently for a few min
utes; oh, how we listenenedi our faces
blanched and our limbs trembling. Had
Bouncer escaped away on his weighty
errand without being discovered? Alas,
no! sudden wild jabbering rose on the
night air, rush of many feet, and the
next instant we detected yelp of pain.
'.They have surely speared hint" whis-
pered Mr.. Ashby.
But Long Peter turned on him almost
in anger. ''No, no, sir" he said; she is
just scratched. He'll do it yet, I know
he will!"
HE must be quick then" replied the
master. ''for those cursed savages have
struck light somehow; they mean to
burn Us out, look!''
Our eyes were now intently watching
the movements of the black fellows from
the loopholes, and we had not watched
long till we saw flaming brand whiz-
zing 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 fakan effact
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 thorough
ly drenched the roof, but while thus en-
gagged heard a shout from below. 1t
was Mr. Ashby's voice.
Come down, Jem; come quickly"
he cried, and ratified down the ladder
with sinking heart. Long Peter lay
on the floor of the hut, white and gasp
ing; spear had entered one of the loop
holes and pinned him through the thigh.
In response to my groan of utter dis
may the good fellow struggled into.
sitting posture.
''Never mind me, Jem," he said;
eight it out to the last. Take my gun,
there is one charge in it yet; but first
drag me into that corner"
l 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
ringleader-that man with the blazing
log in his hand-I fear he has already
fired the roof. hear it cracking; but
it scarcely matters now, the end is not
far off. We are doomed"
AS he spoke these despairing 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 after this,
and a 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. l 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 the top of me
dead, felled by the butt end of Mr.. Ash
bys gun. But knew little more. Dimly
l seemed to hear a loud hurrah from out
side, followed by the cracking of rifles;
then every sound died away into utter
silence.
'Well, 1 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
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, l know"
1.-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 a game one, he
is. Well have you all carried to the
Head 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
spear wound in the shoulder, SO that the
letter was covered with blood We
could scarcely make it out, but we
guessed quick enough that there was
something amiss, and came away at
once. We We're just in time, Jem, my
boy"
Didn't tell We as Bouncer would do
it" cried Long Peter. in rather weak
and Quavering voice. Poor old chap"
he added tenderly, as the faithful brute
limped across the hut at the sound of
the shepherds voice and crept close to
his side. You and me will never part, |
Bouncer, never, as long as we live"
And they never did part till seven years
later, when, III extreme Old age, Bouncer |
died and was buried in grave dug for !
him by Long Peter himself. All" |
he said, when the ceremony was over,
why do them faithful brutes die so |
soon? I'll never see his like again; he |
was as wise as any Christian. and deal |
more faithful than many"
Helping One Another.
The genial spirit of helpfulness that