The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-10
MORE THAN HE WANTED.


Cleveland L<G4cr
During the war OF the revolution and
for some years after its close Kentucky
was Justly entitled to its name, "The
Dark and Bloody Ground" The whole
state was tho hunting ground of the
many Indian tribes that roamed the
region watered by the Ohio and its tri-
butaries, and the red man resisted with
all his might the enroachment OF the
whites.
Therefore, every white settlement had
to be protected by blockhouse sur
rounded by strong stockades, and at
the first alarm the entire neighborhood
would flock to the tort, the heavy gates
would be closed aud preparations made
TO withstand an Indian siege. On many
of these occasions the women and even
the children fought with signal brav-
cry. Near the banks of the Licking
river stood one of these blockhouses.
1t went by the name OF "Holman's,"
and was one OF the strongest and best
in the west The stockade was high
and tho loopholes numerous, so that
the settlers felt pretty secure when they
were once within.
One summer day, Just before dark, a
man came to Holman's with the news
that a war party of Indians was near at
hand in the settlement, and in short
time all the settlers were gathered in
the enclosure. Sure enough Indians
were soon seen gliding about in the for
est near by.
The alarm had been sounded so sud-
denly that the few cattle were complete
ly forgotten and left grazing in a past
ure lot some distance from the stock
AIDE. It was expected that the Indians
would at once shoot tho cattle, and the
whole company felt sore!y dismsyed
about it.
That long night passed in suspense,
but without an attack. Indeed, when
morning came the toe was not to be
seen, and some believed that the red
skins had taken their departure. The
COWS could be seen grazing unmoiested
in the pasture, and not an Indian was to
be discovered. Still it was not safe to
go out,
There was we'll within the stockade,
but the water was found to be unfit to
drink, and before noon the children,
some Of them mere babies, were nearly
dying OF thirst.
"Ihere's milk over yonder," said Rod
ney Mason, boy OF fifteen, looking ut
the COWS from one OF the loopholes,
and I'm going after it."
"Yes, and the Indians, too" said a
settler, with an ominous shake OF the
head. They're skulking near, I'm
sure"
II don't know; we haven't seen any
since last night, and we must have some-
thing to drink, said the boy. He came
OF good, fearless stock, and the longer he
looked toward the pasture the tirmer
grew his desire to sally out and milk the
cows.
II am 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 frontiersman 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 CO." said Mrs. Mason.
"Aiy boy shall milk Brindie and Bess il
he can. lam willing for one to trust
him outside the fort. Rodney knows
how TO take care OF himself"
A few minutes after the lad, with q
bucket on each arm, stood at the gates.
ready to be let out. The ritiemen sta
toned themselves at the ioophotes,
ready to shoot the first Indian who
tried to intercept him-and the men OF
the early West we're the best marks
men in the world.
WhistIing 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 overlappe6 the
stumps that dotted the ground, and
might easily conceal redskin, as the
rihemen had warned him.
His heart beat little faster as be de.
scended a knoll which shut him out OF
sight OF the bIockhouse, but he kept on:
In moment more he was recognized
by the COWS and they came forward,
lowing gently, and he was soon at his
self-imposed task.
Rodney know his danger. He was
not foolhardy. He was on tho lookout
all the time as he sat milking. There
we're many trees in the pasture, and
each was large enough to shelter the
body of Shawnee warrior. But not o
suspicious sound reached the young
settler and nothing startling greeted his
rowing eye.
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.
guess the Indians have gone back"
said he. But tho wonder is that they
didn't kill or drive OIL the COWS"
So saying, with a bucket OF milk in
each hand, the brave boy Of the back
woods started towards the fort.
Tho cows followed to the fringe OF
the pasture, lowing after him as he
started up tho knoll, eager to show him
self to his mother and friends within
the stockade.
"Hore he comes" cried the riaemen
at the portfolios. HE has MIXED the
cows and is coming back"
Rodney is coming. Hos coming
Al. II. al,