The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-12-09
VOL. XXXVII---NO. SO.

looked for moment and with white
face confirmed the discovery
ut is an Indian The boy will
have to pass within three feet of him.
They are going to ambush Rodney
Mason !"
Don't let the women and children
know. Keep them from the port
holes,n was the reply.
On came Rodney with the milk. He
was once more whistling his favorits
tune. The full buckets seemed to
hang heavy on his hands.
The men at the loopholes watched
his advance breathlessly. They saw
him nearing the stump where the
Shawnee lay, and wondered if the In
dian would let him pass.
All at once, with yell that seemed
to terroriZe every one in the block
house, the figure by the grass-fringed
stump sprang up and confronted the
boy
He was an Indian Of large stature,
and was painted for the war trail, as
all could see. AS he leaped into view,
brAndishing q tomahawk, Rodney
stopped and recoiled. The sight sent
a shiver to his heart
white boy milk COWS for Injun,n
the Shawnee said, reaching for the
buckets. Good white boy y
Give up the milk needed in Hol-
mans fort Let the Indians have it
when he had risked his life to get it
for the women and children ?
All this passed through the boys
mind, but at the same time Rodney
realized he could never outrun the
Savdges with two buckets of milk in
his hands.
He had but little time to decide.
He thought he saw other dark forms
in the grass. He believed he was sur
rounded by the red pests.
Come, white boy, give Sassacus
the milk - cried the Indian, advanc-
ing another step.
Rodney set the buckets down. But
the next moment, as the Shawnee
stopped toward them, he caught up
one with both hands.
You want the milk? Well, you
shall have it ~ he exclaimed, and
dashed the whole bucketful in the
warriors face.
lt.was most ludicrous scene so far
as the Indian was concerned. He was
covered from head to feet with milk,
blinded and sputtering Before he
could recover from his establishment
Rodney had caught up the other
bucket and was running towards the
block house.
The distance was not great, but the
boy knew that he could not outrun
the Indian, burdened as he was with
the milk, and he did not expect to.
Cover his retreat, men, you can
drop the Indian in q minute. Go to
the gate, some of you and stand ready
to let him in," cried the commandant
of Holman's.
You may believe that all was excite
ment within the block-house.
The best marksmen aimed at the
Shawnee from the loopholes, others
ran to the barricaded gates and stood
ready to open the instant the boy
hero reached them. 1t was all over
in two minutes.
Several Indians sprang from the
grass to follow Rodney, but they were
dropped by the rifles. And the gates
were opened to let Rodney in, and
closed before the fifty painted Indians
now on a full charge at the stockades
could reach their mark.
Rodney was grasped by scores of
hands. The little milk still remain
ing in the bucket was doled out to the
children.
All that day the savnges tried by ar
titice to tempt the defenders of Hol-
mans from the stockade, but were
unsuccessful, and when night came
they deliberately killed the cattle and
went off.
But the bravery of Rodney Mason
had added another chapter to the
thrilling history of the young State,
and for many years afterward it was
told how he had MIXED Brindle and
Bess for the children when Holman's
was besteged by tho rod hordes Of tia
forest.
/ should add, perhaps, that when
the tribes had made peace with the
settlers an Indian came one day to
Holman's, and singing out Rodney
Mason, shook the stalwart young
white good-naturedly by the shoulder
Milk heap good, but Sassacus got
all he want-ho hor'
1t was really Sassacus, the Shawnee,
and he had remembered his white
bath. -COurie7-J Journal.