The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-10-14
The minister returned to the nu,n,,

/ S"'S eSS IL q NoiSS VI JeEitCI tranquility.
The ring of flint and steel sounded all
over the house.
MAKE ready your guns" continued
the minister, taking up a heavy musket,
aud blowing the match, or fuse, by
which it was discharged. ''Musketeers.
to your stations. Yethat have but swords
or pixies, sit fast"
The congregation obeyed these orders
as calmly as they had been given
Twenty-Five men, headed by Deacon
True, silently ranged themselves tn,
loopholes which were pierced in tn,
ioor ana along the walls. Each knew
his position, and took 1t without delay
| ,r hesitation; while the fifteen men who
nad no fircarms sat stifily on the benches
with the women and children, most of
! whom had not looked behind them since
! Abner rushed In.
Parson Pladley looked at the hour.
glass, which still continued to run, and
quietly resumed his sermon. Around
| she sides of the room the musketeers
stopped at the loopholes amid the light
vapor from their smouldering matches.
On the benches the body of listeners
Kept the ir composed countenances turned
apon the preacher. Save his voice,
there was no sound but an infrequent
metallic rattle, as some musketeer ex-
imned his gun or loosen his iron-hilted
| broadsword in the scabbard. The
words of the preacher sang throughout
| the house:
"And even as aforetime the heather
did furiously rage, and did compass the
children Of the covenant with spear and
iavelin round about"
A high pitched, thrilling screech filled
The air without, aud now rose above the
minister's voice. 1t was sustained and
prolonged in many savage throats.
There came quick, sharp patterlngs on
she roof and walls, like hailstones.
Enoch Brett fell backward from his
loophole with an arrow through the
Drain. Another man rose from his seat,
picked up the guu which Brett had
dropped, and took the vacant station.
A dozen muskcts answered the storm
IF miSsels. Their fire seemed to check
the advance of the Indians, inasmuch as
the war cry grew fainter, aud the pat
t,ring Of the arrows diminished.
Parson Piadley ha3 not interrupted his
sermon, although his voice had been
temporarily drowned by the noise of the
assault and defence, except for the in
slant that he cast one glance at the mus
| ket beside him, and another at the hour.
glass.
All the men who could act were at
their posts; why should he not continue
| to the end, while waiting for the des-
peratc struggle which must Gomez His
sense of duty told HIM that he ought not
/ to cease his holy office before the ap-
| pointed time, except under compulsion
in which lie must recognize the hand of
God.
His hearers understood this as we'll as
| f he had declared his determination in
so many words. They did their part by
listening with steady attention.
Again the cries grew louder and
arrow flights thicker. The guns re-
Piled, but this time the attack was not
repaiscd. A ponderous humping on the
door, which shook the whole building,
told that some kind OF battering- ram was
being employed to break 1t down.. A.
| few more such shocks and the door must
fall.
Only pinch or two more of sand re-
nained in the hour glass. Still it was
not quite empty and Parson Pladley
| preached on.
Crashl The door was half off its
hinges. The firearm men crowded be-
hind it and deliverd volley that ap.
peared for minute to clear the passage.
| There was yet some sand in tho hour
glass. The parsons lips could be seen
to move, though his voice was not
heard.
y renewed yell and the crashing blows
once more beat upon the door. No shots
an -wered this time, for the muskcts we're
empty.
An arrow whistled across the church
aud stuck quivering in the front Of the
pulpit. Around the edges of the shat
tered door hatchets and clubs were
b:andishei in the faces of the defend
ers, who dashed them aside with the
butts of their guns. The women began
to scream.
The last sand ran out of the hour e lass
Parson Pladley bowed his head aud said.
''AmenW And all the congregation
answered together, "Amen!"
Up sprang the hitherto motionless
listcners-women to the rear, mep to
the front-and from the pulpit the old
minister, with sword and gun, led the
way to the aid of the others, who were
beginning to give ground before the of
hideously. painted figures who were forc.
ing their way through the entrance.
Then came out another side of the
Puritan character. The fierce energy
almost joy-with which the colonists
fought assasprisipg as the stony self
contro! they bad shown but moment
before. Ahesd OF thcm all, Parson
Pladley swung his mighty sword with
cries whitl o(eeyed the old horse
soldier jof Csou4stt aud Harrison, for
such Ing had besi and of those who fol-
lowed him, moro than zpne had stood in
\ khs zfu Qf stae pikeH5aae who met the
/, <Ref q Prince ttesss Cavaliers,