The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-04-06
WHITE MANS WINGS.

AophNA A<o0Soh IhOtGO
up from Salem to the banks of the Merri-
mac at what is nov Concord. N. II. The
new country was fertile, and on a broad
plain in a bend of the great river a pres
porous little hamlet was growing.
The home of the Whitakers was org of
the l2 garrison houses of Penacook. Dur
ing colonial times houses in a new settle
ment were built SO as to be easily defended
in case of an attack from savages. Strong
walls OF hewn timber, carried up as high
as the roofs, were erected around each
house, and at the corners were sentry box
es where some one of the family watched
when an Indian raid was apprehended.
Sometimes a number of dwellings, were in
closed in such n fertilization.
Laban was the youngest of a family of
nine. One of his elder brothers was grown
up and married, but the young couple
made their home with his father. In 40
large Il household it usually deyolves on
one of the younger members to do the
chores. This part of the labor fell gener-
ally upon Laban.
But he was Il stout, sturdy boy, quite
willing to perform the duties that fell to
him. These were to go to the mill when
ever the family supply of frye and In
dian" was exhausted, to cut and carry in
the %flrewood, and in summer time to weed
the garden and to herd the cows.
There were no fenced Enclosures for pas
turage purposes in early Penacook. The
cows of the settlers ran at large in the
woods and meadows, and the boys took
turns IN guarding tham through the day
and driving them up at night. As two
boys watched at a time, and as there were
about a dozen lads in the settlement, 1t
consequently became LAaban's turn once a
week to be out with the COWS.
1t was not hard work, and when it was
not stormy weather Laban rather liked it.
The danger attending iJ was just sufficient
TO give a certain Zest to Che employment,
for it was in the time of the French and
Indian war. 1--WE or three years before
this a and of Indians had lain in ambush
in the forest and shot down seven of the
settlers as they were passing from the town
to a garrison a few miles distant. Since
then, although other settlements had felt
the scourge, PenacOok had not been no.
Tested. Still the settlers were not uncoH-
scious of the danger that any day might
sweep down upon them.
Sentries stood on guard day and night.
Every pioneer carried his musket to his
work in the fields, and on Sunday the con-
gregation went armed to a man to the lit
tie log meeting house. Even the minister
kept his firelock by his side in the pulpit
as he read from the word of God. Such
was life OF the New England frontier $50
years ago.
One bright Tune day I4aban and another
boy named Ezra Kimball went out togeth-
er to watch the cows. Both boys had their
tiintlock muskets, and with them went
Rover, a large brindled mastiff that be-
longed to the kimball lad.
The COWS had fed farther than was usu-
al that day, and when the long afternoon
drew to a close the boys were a mile from
home. They had no thought of danger,
however, as they drove their lowing charge
through the bosky glades and along the
forest paths toward the little settlement.
The soft, balmy air was full of charm.
The smoke rising from the chimneys of
the cabins down in the valley, where the
settlers wives were cooking their late sup
per, gave a pleasant touch to the land
scape.
A great hush had suddenly come over
she forest. Not a birds note was to be
heard. The stiffness, like that of a Sab.
OQbhs ~ " NhO OoIo dOVIutloi, St'ti jig
looked at each other with a sudden fear
blanching their tanned faces. Rover's
sharp bark in front reassured them, how
ever, and they hurried On through the
glimmering twilight.
Before them was a little dell, through
which a brook meandered with low, mu-
steal gurgles. Alders lined the valley. and
the trunk of a fallen tree of huge dimen.
SiOnS Law beside the nqYrOw nath
"Indians, Indiansi" rose from the white
lips of Ezra Kimbal as he sprang back
ward. He had caught the glimpse of rec
legs behind the alder bushes.
Instantly a dozen savages rose up from
their hiding place behind the fallen tree
trunk and the copse of alders. Before La
ban could spring out of the way or in any
way shrink from the encounter he was
seized.
A stalwart brave leaped after Ezra, who
had taken to his heels through the brush.
wood. The pioneer boy heard his red foe
just behind him. How should he escape
his clutches? He had but a moment tt
think, but it was long enough to save him
He allowed himself to fall suddenly an
inert body across the wild wood path. II
was done so quickly that the Indian could
not turn or evade the stumbling block in
his way. He pitched headlong over it anG
fell PROSTATE upon the earth. With a sharp
fierce yelp Rover rushed upon the faller
savage, throttling and tearing him in 9
terrible manner.
In the excitement Ezra sprang to hi.
feet and dashed off.
"Run to the fort and arouse the set
tlers!' shouted Lab ban after him.
But Ezra did not need the incentive. A
few shots were fired after him, but he es
capped without a scratch to alarm the set
Element.
Not so fortunate was Laban. He wa:
led away through the wilderness. His
captors travelled all that night, never halt
ing till they were miles from the little set
Element on the Merrimac.
The band of warriors had been detached
from a larger war party, and in the morn
ing the two bands united, halted wher.
two streams met and cooked a hasty break
fast. They then continued their march
arriving at the end of q weeks time at al
Indian village on the northern extremity
of Lake C~hamplain.
There, after a time, the young captive
was formally adopted into the Indian
tribe, an old chief taking him into his OWL
wigwam as a son.
Those were dark days for Laban Whita
ker, but he manfully repressed his griei
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