Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-11-11

/ which it was discharged. Mus
keteers, to your stations. Ye that
have hut swords or pixies, be fast.
The congregation obeyed these or
ders as calmly as they had been Civ
en-. Twenty-Five men, headed by
Deacon True, silently ranged them
selves at the loopholes which were
pierced in the door and along the
walls. Each knew his position and
took it without delay or hesitation,
while the fifteen men who had no fire
arms 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 the sides of the room the
musketeers stopped at the loopholes
amid the light vapor from TIER Smol-
deriug matches.
On the benches the body OF listen
ers kept their composed countenanceS
turned upon the preacher. Save his
voice. there was no sound but an in
frequent metallic rattle as some mus
keteer examined his gun or loosened
his iron-hilted broadsword in the
scabbard. The words of the preach
er sounded through the house
And even as aforetime the heath
en- did furiously rage, and did com
pass the children of the covenant with
spear and with javeIin around about
A high-pitched, thrilling screech
filled the air without and now rose
above the minister's voice Ii was
sustained and prolonged in many sav-
age threats. There came quick, sharp
patterings on the roof and walls. like
hailstones.
Enoch Brett fell backward from
his loophole with an arrow through
the brain. Another man rose from
his seat, picked up the gun which
Brett had dropped and took the
vacant station.
\ dozen muskets answered the
storm of missiles. This fire seemed TO
check the advance of the Indians. in
asmuch as the war cry grew fainter
and the patterinG of the arrows dt-
minished.
Parson PIadley had not interrupt
ed his sermon. although his voice
had been temporarily drowned by
the noise of the assault and defense,
except for the instant that he cast
one glance at the musket beside him
and another at the hourglass.
All the men who could act were at
their posts; why should he not con
tinue to the end while waiting for the
desperate struggle which must come
His sense of duty told him that he f.
ought not to cease his holy Office be .
fore the appointed time, except under .
compulsion in which he must recog
nize the hand OF God.
His hearers understood this as well .
as if he had declared his determina
ton in so many words. They did .
their part by listening with steady
attention.
Again the cries grew louder and ar
row flights thicker. The guns replied,
but this time the attack was not re
pulsed. \ ponderous humping on
the door, which shook the whole
building, told that some kind Of bat
teriug ram was being employed to
break it down. 4 few more such .
shocks and the door must fall.
Only a pinch or two Of sand re
mained il the hourglass Still it was
not quite empty, and Parson Pladley
preached on.
Crash The door was half of its
hinges The frearm men crowded .
behind it and delivered "A yOlIey that .
appeared for minute TO clear the .
passage. There was yet some sand .
in the hourglass The parsons lips
could be seen TO move, though his .
voice was not heard.
\ renewed yell, and the crashing .
blows once more beat upon the door .
No shots answered this time, for the
muskets were empty.
Anarrow whistled across the church .
and stuck quivering in the front Of .
the pulpit. Around the edges Of the f.
shattered door hatches and clubs
were brandished in the faces Of the
defenders, who dashed them aside
with the butts Of their guns. The
women began to scream.
The last sand ran out Of the hour
glass. Parson Pladley bowed h.s
head and said Amen =. And all the
congregation aswered together.
Amen :"
Up spraug the hlllefIO hOuphItsa
isteners-women to the rear, men to
the front-aud from the pulpit the
old minister with sword and gun led
the way 10 the aid Of the others, who
were beginning to give ground be
fore the mass of hideously painted
figures who were forcing their way
through the entrance.
Then came out another side Of the
Puritan character. The fierce energy
almost joy-with which the colon
lists fought was a surprising a. the
stony self control they bad shown
but a moment before. Ahead Of them
all. Parson Pladley swung his mighty
sword with cries which betrayed the
old horse soldier Of Cromwell and
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