The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-15


en- and children, and amid sobs, ejacula-
tions Of pity and incoherent explanations
he learned to his dismay what put terri
BILE finish to the desperate condition Of af-
fairs-Af1ie was lost.
She had strayed from the other children
while they were up in the stump piece"
strawberrying, and the men had gone up
the mountain with torches looking for her.
There was not a moment to be lost. The
boy told them that the Indians were com.
ing, adding, raising his voice above the
cries of alarm: Get to the blockhousel
Give the alarm to everybody, and then get
in as quick as you camp
For IA moment, as the last figure disap-
peared in the darkness, the poor boy stood
as IL stunned listening to the sobs Of Mrs.
Murkland, still crouched upon the floor too
overcome by her loss to heed aught else.
A sudden swish was heard outside, and
the next instant Boone leaped through the
open door to his masters shoulder. A
thankful cry that his dog was not killed,
az he feared n passionate kiss on the big,
ugly face upturned to his, and Sandy had
recovered from his boyish panic.
Turning to Mrs. Murkland, he said, shak-
ing her sharply by the shoulder, Get up
and get me something to write With"
Inc poor WOIlu0 uTOSc WITH ~
scared look on her face at the unusual tone
of command in the boys voice, but in a
moment she brought him what he wanted
Now get me Mr.. Murklands red silk
handkerchief and shoe of Allies"
She obeyed the energy In his tone com
polling her, without question, and Sandy
knelt before the fire, resting the coarse pa
per on the towel bandage of his wounded
left hand and making with goosequill
pen the tortured pothooks that had cost
Mrs. MAkland so much teaching:
lndiansl Put out your torchesl All In the
bockhouse. Give Boone Allies shoe. Como
to the trench trapdoor SANDY.
Giving the handkerchief q rub across
Boone's nose, Sandy proceeded to secure
the note and shoe in its folds, talking to
the intelligent old fellow the while, and at
the word Col" he bounded out into the
darkness
The blockhouse was built by the first
settlers who came to the place, and their
cabins were clustered around it. Sandy
was relieved to find that Mrs Murkland
and himself were the last to enter it. Even
those living farthest had come in.
Everything was in the most ptiable con-
fusion. No one-though every gun in the
place was brought in-had thought of
making any defense.
This won't dor thought the brave boy
who was trying to save the settlement, and
his voice presently rang out over the din,
Every man and boy that can bear gun,
come to the roof with rnep'
AS he reached the roof he saw light
which he knew was that of his burning
cabin, and though he at first intended to
consult with the few old men, that sight
put everything else out of his mind, except
the protection of the women and children
and the immediate steps to be taken.
By tacit consent, though he was one of
the youngest there, Sandy took commi
He assigned every man, gun and boy 10 n
special place until every loophole IS
manned. Then, leaving one old man on the
roof, Sandy appealed to the women for help
"There," said he as he ranged them ~
the wide, fiat stone covering the mouth f
the trench, which, as in most of the BLOCK
houses of that period led underground to a
secret opening within the settlement out
side, You must keep sharp lookout that
none but our friends get in, for the Indians
will certainly find the trench"
The boy, realizing the great necessity for
silence, muttered hopefully to himself as
he made his way to the loophole in the
large plank door, Nov, the poor things
can't Cry for listening"
There followed half an hour OF the most
horrible waiting. This was the first time
since the alarm that Sandy had had to
think. All of the ablebodied men were
gone. They and his dear little Af1ie were
probably murdered ere now.
The cold sweat broke over his trembling
body as he thought of the responsibility
resting upon him, and smothering in the
bandage of his wounded hand his mortal
cry for help he sank upon the stone floor,
where he prayed as one prays seldom in II
lifetime.
Sandy arose, Gained and strengthened,
and it was well that he was so, for almost
Immediately the man on the roof an
nounced in hoarse, shaking whisper as
he leaned over the opening, Indians among
the cabins"
The only way by which their presence
could be detected was by the alternate shin
ing and darkening through the open doors
and windows Of the hearth fires of the sud
denly abandoned cabins as the Indians
moved about rummaging for spoils
! Though some of the cabins were within
Easy range of the loopholes, Sandy com
handed mo firingl" for fear of bringing on
the attack. 1t was better to watch and
B Will, LOT nc We'll appreciated HOW ledrlulIy
inadequate his few old men, women and
children were to cope with their cruel foe
Sandy judged rightly that the door
would be the principal point of attack, and
when the fires were put out in tho cabins
md silence reigned, he knew that the
enemy were coming.
A sudden shufIling Of stealthy feet was
heard outside, and the boy fired. There
was a stumble, fall, and Sandy saw the
white end of log roll over in the path.
THE idiots don't know that can see the
white end Of their log" muttered he, as he
lodged back to reload. The spatter o.
bullets and arrows for few minutes was
fearful, and when he next dared to look
cut, the white edge of the huge batterinl
ram was perilously near the door, being
borne with q rush for the blow.
Sandy's next shot, aimed just above tn,
white end told with fearful effect. Their,
was shrek in mingled voices, and the 10.
swayed and fell, followed by the sound o
retreating feet and dragging bodies, as tn
wounded were borne away.
The attack had now become general, tn
bullets and arrows flying through ever,
ioophole, till no man dared take aim, bu
Sandy, by posing his gun through the loop
hole at about the angle of his last aim, man