The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-05-12

Dee that his heart was full. All, his dear
young wife, his blue eyed little onesi
Would he ever see them more?
There was certainly no time to lose
could see the dark figures of the enatives
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 final
scrimmage. Meanwhile Long Peter had
pulled away half rotten slab from be-
hind his bunk, thus making hole suffi-
GENTLY 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 waist
coat, and quite understood what was ex-
pected of him. could not bear to look
at Long Peter at this moment, his feat
ures were working with emotion, and /
could have sworn that there were tears
in his eyes; but he said nothing. Every
thing being now ready he led Bouncer to
the hole, held his muzzle for 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 few min
utes; oh, how we istenenedi our faces
blanched and our limbs trembling Had
Bouncer escaped away on his weighty
errand without being discovered? Alas,
mol a sudden wild jabbering rose on the
night air. a rush of many feet, and the
next instant we detected yelp of pain
"They have surely speared himr' whis-
pered Mr.. Ashby.
But Long Peter turned on him almost
in anger. mo, no, sir" he said; che is
just scratched. He'll do it yet, know
he willi'
He must be quick then," replied the
master. ''for those cursed savages have
struck light somehow: they mean to
burn US out, lookr'
Our eyes were now intent1y 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 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 l was directed, and thorough
ly drenched the roof. but while thus en-
gagged | heard shout from below. It
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 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 a
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 a pam
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-1 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 fred, his bullet bringing
down the man aimed at, who, with
wild screech, fell to the ground. There
was pause of CONSERVATION after this,
and 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.. Ashby's 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 a 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
by's gun. But knew little more. Dimly
| seemed to hear loud hurrah from out
side, followed 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 forr' 1t was the voice of
Jerry, who was dragging away the dead
body of my assailant from off my chest
mo, 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 Peteri He is terribly
hurt, / know"
''The other chaps are attending to
him." said Jerry, "and as for the master
he says he is all right; he won't own to
a single scratch. He is game one, he