Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-25

AAiAhioNCi NOiNSs IL was SuSldlutu anu
prolonged in many savage threats. There
came quick, sharp gatherings on the roof
and walls, like hailstones.
Enoch Brett fell backward from his loop
hole 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.
A dozen muskets answered the storm of
missiles. Their fire seemed to check the
advance of the Indians, inasmuch as the
war cry grew fainter and the pattering of
the arrows diminished.
Parson Pladley had not interrupted his
sermon, although his voice had been tenn
porarily drowned by the noise of the as
sault and defense, except for the instant
that he cast one glance at the musket be-
side him and another at the hourglass.
All the men who could act were at their
posts; why should he not continue to the
end while waiting for the desperate strug-
gle which must Gomez His sense of duty
told him that he ought not to cease his
holy Office before the appointed time ex-
cept under compulsion in which he must
recognize the hand of God.
His hearers understood this as well as if
he had declared his determination in so
many words. They did their part by lis
tening with steady attention.
Again the cries grew louder and arrow
flights thicker. The guns replied, but this
time the attack was not repulsed A pom
derous humping on the door, which shook
the whole building, told that some kind of
battering ram was being employed to
break it down. A few more such shocks
and the door must fall
Only pinch or two of sand remained in
the hourglass. Still it was not quite
empty, and Parson Pladley preached on.
Crashl The door was half off its hinges.
The firearm men crowded behind it and
delivered a volley that appeared for a
minute to clear the passage. There was
yet some sand in the hourglass. The par
sons lips could be seen to move, though
his voice was not heard.
A renewed yell, and the crashing blows
once more beat upon the door. No shots
answered this time, for the muskets were
empty.
An arrow whistled across the church
and stuck quivering in the front of the
pulpit. Around the edges of the shattered
door matches and clubs were brandished in
the faces of the defenders, who dashed
them aside with the butts Of their guns.
Inc women began to scream.
The last sand ran out of the hourglass.
Parson Pladiey bowed his head and said
"Amenl" And all the congregation an
swered together, "Amenp'
Up sprang the hitherto motionless
listeners-women TO the rear, men to the
the front-and from the pulpit the old
minister with sword and gun led the way
to the aid of the others, who were begin
ming to give ground before the mass of
hideously painted figures who were
forcing their way through the entrance
Then came out another side of the Puri-
tan character. The fierce energy-almost
joy-with which the colonists fought was
as surprising as the stony self control they
had shown but n moment before. Ahead
of them all, Parson Pladley swung his
mighty sword with cries which betrayed
the old horse soldier of Cromwell and Har-
rison, for such he had been, and of those
who followed him more than one had stood
in the ranks of the pikemen who met the
charges of Prince Rupert's cavaliers, and
repealed them too.
AS if be remembered this, the minister
lifted up his strong voice in a stern psalm
which had thundered over the battlefields
of Naseby and Marston Moor-the war song
of David, the king, rejoicing over his vic
tory:
II have pursued mine enemies and over
taken them; neither did | turn again till
they were consumed.
II have wounded them that they were
not able to rise; they are fallen under my
feet.
''For thou hast girded me with strength
unto the battle; thou hast subdued under
me those that rose up against me-"
The Indians were like wolves combating
lions. They shrank, wavered and were
pressed back to the door, through it and
outside of it. Then by one last rush they
were broken, scattered and dispersed.
They ran in every direction for the shelter
of the woods; many of them fell by the way
under the pixies and swords of their pur-
suers. Huddersfield was saved.
Within the meeting house, now half
ruined, dim with powder smoke and heaped
with broken benches, arrows and dead
bodies, the congregation gathered around
its minister, who, blackened and bloody,
with gown torn to shreds and great slash
across his forehead. once more raised up
his voice-this time in the glorious strains
of one of their triumphant hymns.
All Joined in it-even the wounded, who
could scarcely lift their heads from the
ground, and the dying, who sang their last
breaths away in the grateful chorus.
When the injured had been cared for
and there was once more time for ordinary
matters Parson Pladley called Abner True
to him.
"Son Abner, thou didst well so cunning
ly to avoid those ruthless savages and
privily warn us betimes. For this thou
meritest reward"
Abner looked up astonished.
"And this shall be thy reward-that for
thy willful tarrying away from the sane
tuary thou shalt receive no discipline
from the church."
"But my father WHIP stammered the
boy.
"Of surety he WILL" placidly replied
the minister, land | trust it may do thee
good"
"Come with me, Abner," said Deacon
Amos.-Manley II. Pike in Youths Com
panion.
HVosonr, 20