Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-01-08

and struck at her breast with his knife,
when she brought her axe down on
his face, breaking il in and sending
his " arm brains and blood all over her
dress and hands.
Abandoning any attempt to ter
the house in this way, the enemy now
ascendcd to the roof aud eudcavored
TO effect an entrance by way Of the
chimney, the wide, old-fashioned fire
place of that period, but once more
they were foiled by the heroic and
clever woman, made strong aud cum
hins by her beloved ones peril. She
seized the only feather bed the cabin
nome afforded, and ripping it open
with all haste poured its contents on
the fire. As she did so, the clock on
the mantel near her, proclaimed the
hour when her sick child's medicine
was to be administered and with a
firm hand the admirable mother
poured out the draught aud held it TO
the little ones lips.
BY this time a furious blaze and
snilocating smoke was ascending the
chimney, and in another instant, two
sliiled and half roasted Indians came
tumbling down into the fireplace.
They lay choking, and nearly inscnsi-
BILE for moment, when, seizing her
axe once more, she despatched them
hastily, for the only remaining savage
now appeared at the door, and was
about to effect an entrance, while Mrs.
Merrill was engaged at the chimney.
She met him as he was stepping over
the dead bodies of his companions,
which blocked the doorway, and
struck at him with the axe. The
blow fell on his shoulder disabling
him in the right arm, but seizing his
tomahawk in the other hand, he rushed
upon her. Dropping the axe she caught
up one of the fire brands from the
hearth, and holding it by the un-
charred end, hurled it ablaze at the
other full in the advancing warriors
face. II struck him. binding h m for
the moment, WHEN running forward
she grasped him about the lower
limbs, and tripping him up, sent him
head foremost into the fire. Hastily
scrambling to his all fouPs he was
again fclled to the floor, by a blow on
the head, which stunned him. Mrs.
Merrill caught mp her axe oEce more
and was about 10 brain the Indian,
when he sprang to his feet and with
howl of terror and pain rushed from
The. houze with such preeipitaney as to
upset the lady in his rush. 1t was he
who carried the story of Mrs. Mer-
rilPs courage aud strength 10 his tribe,
which bestowed on her the title of the
"Long Knife Squaw,"
Her foes once gone, the lady busted
herself bairicading the doorway with
logs of wood in place of the shattered
door, and in caring for her woun ded
husband and her sick child. She had
gone out the next morning TO dig a
grave for the dead Indians, when, by
chance, her nearest neighbor called to
see them. lie conld scarcely credit
her story, but the five bodies were to
be seen as evidence. Promising to 60
after physician for her husband, the
neighbor, the only other white person
besides themselves in eight miles,
assisted her in interring the corpses,
which still numbered the house.
While they were engaged in this
work, q heavy groan from q little
wood close by startled them. The
man, more frightened than. the,
woman, was for retreating to the
house, but Mrs. Merrill insisted that
there was somebody in pain or trouble
near them and that he must investigate
the matter. He still refused. and at
last the lady, borrowing his gun as
precaution, declared her intention of
entering the wood herself. She per-
sisted, though warned that the groan-
ing might only be strategem to decoy
her into the woods, where she would
be slaughtered by the Indians. She
had gone but little way when n trail
of blood confirmed her in her resolu-
tion, and proceeding sac saw an In
dian lying under a bush, where the
suffering wretch had endeavored to
conceal himself. 1t was the one whom
she had wounded in the breast while
he was eHdeavoring to enter the house
at first. He was dclirious and blood
was Issuing from his mouth. So,
calling to the neighbor TO come aud
help her, Mrs. Merrill determined to
take the Indian to the house and care
for him. When her friend came and
saw the redskin, he caught up his gun
and was about to shoot the wounded
savage, but throwing herself before
him in such manner as TO shield him
by her own body, Mrs. Merrill cried:
'.lf you harm him, Robert K,
I will reason with you as if the injury
was to one of my own family"
.'But he is likely TO murder the
whole lot of you if you take him into
your house. The hounds understand
nothing but treachery. Didn't you
ever hear of the man that warmed
the snake in his bosom?
~ I,,,o l,aurI of that but I've