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

BODDlnB out ner IrlBhJ ana grleI IN ner,
mothers arms.
Each man answered to his name rs Sandy
helped him Chamber up, and thank heaven
they were all therei
The last to come up was Boone, the good
dog, who bounded in with an ugly Rrowl
which meant mischief.
indians, 3ooneW asked Sandy, instinct
lively reaching out his hand to the dogs
bristling back.
"Quick, menl Put back the stonep'
A savage yell from the baffled Indians
beneath told how narrow had been their
escape rs the stone slid to its place.
Without a moments hesitation the stone
was filled to its very edges by the women
and older girls, for they knew that the at.
tack was renewed and that the men must
be left free to use the guns.
There was no time to change leaders,
even had any wished it, nor to inquire for
the wounded-though it was known that
none were yet killed-for the roof sentirel
was already descending the ladder, shout
ing "They're on tho roofl'
"Pull down the ladderr' rang out Sandy's
voice, land stand where you arel'
Calling rapidly by name number Of the
returnt d men, he babe them form "a circle
around the opening, and in like manner an
der, himself among the latter.
Fire at the first sound" he said, "then
Jump back to load, and we'll take your
places"
The opening, not more than eli, hit feet
from the ground, was large enough to adj
nit six or eight bodies, and the Indians
probable intention was to make rush, but
the rush was met by concerted fire from
beneath with terrible effect
Though the conflict carried on there in
the dark was short, it was fearful. Many
of the men were wounded and were rapidly
weakening from the loss of blood. But
even after the retreat was sounded from
the roof they were left with the horrors Of
the conflict, in the heap of dead and dying
Indians. No one had the heart to fire into
the grooming mass to dispatch the sufferers
Nothing could be done with them but to
watch and see that they did not crawl away
and this they did, the men taking turns in
going to the women to have their wounds
bandaged with strips torn from their gowns
and aprons.
They had not long, however, to work in
the dark, for a light suddenly streaked up,
which was Immediately followed by the
cry, They're firing the cabinsr'
MY Godl' cried Sandy, snatching the
wounded right arm, they're going to
burn usn'
| Through the commotion that followed
his alarmed cry he saw his error in thus
raising panic, and like the brave heart
that he was he commanded kindly but
firmly, Each keep to his place"
We'll have to go to the roof, men," he
added, "all but those at the loopholes"
"Probably," said Sandy, as they reached
the roof and We're crouching behind the
low breastwork, while we were fighting
the wretches on the roof others were piling
brush around the blockhouse, and we must
prevent their setting it afre."
1t was an awful thing to do, plainly visi-
! BILE to the Indians as they would be from
the lights of the burning cabins but the
dread alternative braced each man to his
duty For it was found to be as Sandy had
said and worse, since the trenches had been
filled with straw from the beds.
"Going to smoke US outp' muttered
Sandy as he made this discovery.
The men fought with the madness Of de
spair. Many fell MORALLY wounded, and
yet those who still stood rallied again and
again to repel the attempts from different
directions to set fire to the brush.
But all was to no purpose against Sc
ing in a dozen places. To add if possible to
the horror of the situation, the women and
children at the first shit of the flames
came screaming and crying to the roof
The scene was awful Screams Of an
guish rose necessarily as one after another
discovered father, sen or brother dead
wounded or dying. Then a voice rose in
prayer, and they all sank down, subduing
their sobs and cries and bowling to the very
roof-to pray and to wait.
All firing had ceased, for the Indians
feeling sure of their victims, had withdrawn
to a convenient distance to enjoy the tor
ture they were inhict.ng.
But what was thatl Sandy raised his
head, and an unmistakable spatter of rain
struck his face
"Will it Gomez" he gasped as his eyes
caught the distant flash of lightning All
here it colnesl The dark rainclouds
pierced by swords Of vivid lightning, emp
tied their welcome contents down upon the
devoted little band.
They were saved. Aye, and better than
they knew, for when the ram had passed
they found that the superstitious savages
had fed from the terrific storm, fearing
that they had offended the Great Spirit
The settlers found their way to Bradford
in the morning, where they obtained helr
to bury the dead and care for the wounded
and got much needed provisions.
The next year found their cabins rebuilt
the older boys taking the places of theil
slain fathers--and Sandy dug up his money
establishing a trading post-the first store
In the township.
None ever tired of telling of the part
Boone took in saving them. and Mr. Murk
d land thong Glrippslv wounded liVe1 ff