Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-03-07
occupied as home by Monsieur Roman s

On the following night the Sun sent
out to each village OF his tribe an ennis
sary, bearing a bundle Of five slender
reeds, with secret orders to the effect
that on the next and every succeeding
morning reed should be removed.
When the fifth reed should be withdraw
that was to serve as sigual for a move
ment against the whites.
So quietly and secretly was this done,
that not suspicion was aroused at Fort
Rosalie
On the fifth day the Sun came carly
into the town. One by one and two by
two the braves Of his tribe, in accordance
with the secret arrangement, strolled
carelessly in, apparently unarmed, and
went about talking of traffic with the
traders of the garrison.
Claire and Alphonse de Villars as
usual were together that morning seated
side by side on rude bench under tree
near the Roman house, enjoying (while
they told over and over again the tender
phrases of a romantic love) all the sweets
of bird song, leaf.rustle and gently blow.
ing wind. A hazy atmosphere, made
golden and dreamily soft by a food OF
tempered sunlight, shimmered over the
over the fort and surrounding village.
Suddenly loud cry rang out from .
point near the principal warehouse of the
post. 1t was the great Suns voice;
Claire recognized it at once. What
could it mean2
From here, there and yonder a hun
dred Wild shouts answered the signal,
and forthyith a mighty tumult of clash.
irg sounds arose from the fort.
There was no mistaking the significance
of the dreadful noise; massacre was at
hand-was already begun. Shots, heavy
crushing blows, groans and screams of
agony filed the air.
Indians were seen running in every
direction brandishing theirAweapons and
falling with deadly fury upon every
white man that they could find.
At the first alarm Alphonse sprang up
and drew his sword but Clare threw her
! arms about him and clung to him with
all the strength of her terrible emotion.
''Do not go! Oh, do not leave me!'
she cried. "Stay with me or I shall
diet"
1t was enough to have wrung the
nerves Of stronger than Claire, as the
demoniac yells and hoarse exclamations
of the savages were answered by the
shrieks and groans of their victims
1t was apparent beyond doubt that the
whites were at the mercy of the savages.
Indeed, from where he stood, AL.
phonse de Vihars could see that the work
Of determination would be over in a few
moments He hesitated, not from any
feeling of cowardice, but with an over
whelrninc consciousness of the awfu
doom that must fall upon him and hi
beloved Claire, SO soon, so certainly, with
such horrible. conditions.
If he should leave Claire and attemp
to aid the shrieking and groaning vic.
tins Of massacre. the poor girl would b.
at the mercy of tie first furious Indian
that might come Il at way.
While he stood appalled, but calm, with
Claire clinging to him and with Madame
Roman rushing toward him from the
house, he heard a we'll known voice, and
turned; the great Sun, feathered and
painted, brandishinS a tomahawk, strobe
up to him from the midst of the riot.
"White man die" exclaimed the giant
savage, lifting higher his cleaning
hatchet.
Claire raised her pale face from where
it had been pressed upon her lovers
bosom.
The Sun stopped short and glared.
s'Swcet Violet" he muttered, deep II
his throat, as if the name were choking
him.
Alphonse de Vlllars put the girl be
hind him and threw himself into atti
tude for action. his sword at guard
It was scene worthy of the pencil o
the master. The two opponents wer
set against a background of blood an
slaughter never surpassed in the histor
OF savage warfare Thev were both 81
perb specimens-typs of the races t
which they belonged. The Indian wa
the larger, but the Frenehman showed
closer-knit and more compact frame.
In another arena, the struggle about L