The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-12-09
miscellaneous.
WHAT A BRAVE BOY DID.
BY T. C. HARBAUGH.

and for some years after its close Ken
lucky was justly entitled to its name,
''The Dark and Bloody Ground"
! The whole State was the hunting
ground of the many Indian tribes that
! roamed the region watered by the
| Ohio and it's tributaries, and the red
man resisted with all his might the
encroachment of the whites.
! Therefore, every white settlement
had to be pro- ected by a blockhouse
surrounded by strong stockades, and
at the first alarm the entire neighbor-
hood would flock to the fort, the
heavy gates would be closed and prep
arations made to withstand an Indian
| siege. On many of these occasions
the women and even the children
| fought with signal bravery. Near
the banks of the Licking river stood
one OF these bIockhouses. 1t went by
the name of "Hollnan's," and ', as
one of the strongest and best in the
West. The stockade was high and
the loopholes numerous, so that the
settlers felt pretty secure when they
were once within.
One summer day, just before dark,
man came to Holman's with the
news that War party of Indians was
short time all the settlement was
gathered in the inclosure Sure
enough, Indians were soon seen glib
ing about in the forest near by.
The alarm had been sounde,. so sud-
denly that the few cattle were COM
pletely forgotten and left grazing in
pasture lot some distance from the
stockade. 1t was expected that the
Indians would at once shoot the cattle,
and the whole company felt sorely
dismayed about it.
That long night passed in suspense,
but without an attack. Indeed, when
morning came the foe was not to DO
seen, and some believed that the red
skins had taken their departure. The
cows could be seen grazing unmolest-
ed in the pasture, and not an Indian
was to be discovered. Still, it was
not safe to go out.
There was a we'll within the stock
ade, but the water was found to be
unfit to drink, and before noon the
children, some of them mere babies,
were nearly dying with thirst.
'There is milk over yonder," said
Rodney Mason, a boy OF fifteen, look
ing at the cows from one of the loop
hole land I'm going after it,"
Eyes, and the Indians, too" said
settler with an ominous shake of his
head. They're skulking, near, I'm
sure
Il don't know we haven seen any
since last night, and we must have
something to drink said the boy.
He came of good, fearless stock, and
the longer he looked toward the pas
ture the firmer grew his desire to sally
out and milk the COWS.
81 AIN going OUT he said with reso-
luton. Bring me two buckets. |
see Brindle and Bess down there, and
they are waiting to be MIXED"
The frontiersmen gathered around
the boy. They warned him that the
long grass between the fort and the
pasture might be alive with Indians.
But this did not shake his resolution.
"Well, he shall go.'' said Mrs Ma
son. my boy shall milk Brindle and
Bess if he can. | am willing, for one,
to trust him outside the fort. Rodney
knows how to take care of himself"
A few minutes after the lad, with a
bucket on each arm, stood ut the gates
ready to be let out The rifiemen sta
toned themselves at the loopholes,
ready to shoot the first Indian that
tried to intercept him-and the men
of the early West were the best marks
men in the world
Whistling tune softly to himself,
Rodney Mason walked along toward
the pasture. A path led TO it from
the fort, and on either side of it grew
tall, rank grass, which often overlap
ped the stumps that dotted the
ground, and might easily conceal a
redskin, as the riflemen had warned
him.
His heart beat little faster as he
descended a knoll which shut him out
of sight of the block-house, but he
kept on. In a moment more he was
recognized by the cows, and they
was soon at his self-inposed task.
Rodney knew his danger. He was
not foolhardy. He was on the look
out all the time as he sat milking.
There were many trees in the pasture,
and each was large enough to shelter
the body OF a Shawnee warrior. But
not a suspicious sound reached the
Young settler and nothing startling
greeted his rowing eye.
When he had finished with Brindle
he called up Bess, and then the others,
as he wanted them. The buckets
were filled with frothy white milk,
and he stood up at last ready to go,
smiling as he thought Of the relief he
would carry to the thirsty families in
the fort.
II guess the Indians have gone
back said he. But the wonder is
that they didn't kill or drive off these
cows"
So saying, with bucket Of milk in
each hand, the brave boy OF the back
woods started towards the fort.
The cows followed to the fringe OF
the pasture, lowing after him az he
started up the knoll, eager to show
himself to his mother and friends
| within the stockade.
"Here he comes" cried a retieman
at the portfolios. He has MIXED
the COWS and is coming back.
Rodney is coming. He's coming
| with the milk" shouted the children,
half wild with thirst, and the parents
of the little ones lifted them to the
| ports to let them watch Rodney's pro-
gress.
He came down the hill and struck
the path in among the grass and
stumps, cheered by chose in the fort,
and he cheered in answer "All safe ~
Look, what is that dark object ly
ing by the stump yonder?'' excitedly
cried one of the men, pointing from
one of the loopholes II am sure it is
an Indian, but can't make out clear
| ly 1t was not there ten minutes ago,
I I'm oartain -