The Odessa herald. (Odessa, Del.) 1888-1892, 1891-05-02

my cap being the only vessel we had
the children especially suffered good
deal. AT last one Of the women dis
covered flint rock with hollow dip
in the middle, which would hold about
two quarts or SO, and kept this filled
as cisiern. ventured that night to
roast a piece of the bear in hole in
the ground, which change of diet was
welcome one. Inevcr passed such
time since / was born, for dare not
sleep an hour for fear of surprise,
and the weight of responsibility felt,
with those poor, helpless creatures on
my hands, was simply awful.
Late OH this second day, when L
climbed tho hill for last look, l saw
small band of Indians not more than
an eighth of mile away. They did
not number more than seven, but were
armed and in full war dress, and were
heading straight for the hill. Drop
ping OH my all fours ran as fast as !
could for the mouth of the cavern,
and scrambling down soon had the
women and children crouchcd up in
the far end of the larger division,
where no shot fired into the smaller
one could reach them, though hoped
the Indians would either pass by al
together or fail TO find US if they
halted Silence then was absolutely
necessary, and the women impressed
this on the children. / then went
back, and by clinging to one of the
bushes swinging across the entrance
to the cave peered out to see what the
redskins meant to do. / could see
they had struck our trail and suspect
cd we were somewhere about, for
they dismounted, and scattering, they
began to search about the woods. =
AS theNdrew near our hiding PLACID
81 nj slts-s s-:srss 4 aud. .eosilsd eite
guns the women had brought and my,
own ti'usty rife. ! suppose my FREE
quent goings i'll and comings out haa
left some trace, for they seemed to
notice tho entrance at once. and pres
emily saw q head peeping over. The
dim light of the cave might have pre-
vented the owner from seeing me, but,
as ill-luck would have it, the infant
child spoke of walled out just at this
particular moment. The cry was
stified in an instant, but it had been
heard, and tho head craned over
\ further, while another and another
popped over. was crouching down
as close as / could, but, hearing the
click of the trigger, knew conceal
ment was no longer possible, and
blazed away. Two screams told me
that a couple of heads had been hit,
and the third disappeared. / heard a
voice shouting for tho others to come
up, and could distinguish the tones of
a colloquy being held, though without
hearing what was said.
Presently lighted torch was flung
into the cave, but had retreated into
tho further ono, and. nothing being
visible, the Indians were nonplussd,
and l heard one cry out that there was
nothing there. Another retorted an
grily that some one had killed Blue
Water and Leaping Turtle. This was
followed by patter of shots OH the
floor of the cave, one of which; re-
bounding, struck one of the children
on the breast, but, though the bullet
embedded itself in his skin, the plucky
little fellow did not utter sound. As
their firing still produced no effect,
the Indians did not know how to ac-
count for matters, and presently one
of them was imprudent enough to
stick his head over the edge, but ]
made no move, and they held another
council. 1t was evident that they
feared to enter the cave, not knowing
how many lay concealed within it, and
at last they hit OH the very plan had
been dreading.
A lighted torch was thrown over,
and quantity of leaves and moss was
, pushed after it, but their amiable in
tention Of smoking us out failed, ow-
} ing 10 The dampness of the leaves and
moss and my having deluged the
cartlien floor of the cave with The
water we had on hand. Seeing thi'
fail, they summoned up courage tc
/ enter the cavern, and as we saw the
' five forms leap over, the women and
: opened OH them. killed my man in
stantly, and so did Mrs. Ridley, who
, Immediately let dusky fiend, who
: screaming, rushed upon her, have thu
F.. full contents of the other barrel in his
G breast.
I The other woman missed her aim
Q and the next moment was in the grasI
, of one of the Indians, bat before
/, could come to her rescue, her son,
4 boy of -, had flung his arms arount
il the redskins mock, and, hanging OIL
4 his back kept him from striking, whei
Q the woman, picking up tomahawk
struck him a tremendous blow on til
. forehead, Hs dropped l!ee . log