Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-01-19
AT FORT BOBOLINK.

proctor and Tecumseh have abandoned
tie siege of Fort Meigs, and their forces are
coming this wayr'
These words were shouted by man who
rode through the Maumee forests one day
in the summer of 1873 They blanched the
checks of every listener.
The rider bestrode a fleet horse whose
TANKS gave evidence of hard riding, and as
he galloped from cabin to cabin with the
terrible announcement mothers seized
their children and invountarily pressed
them to their bosoms.
For some time a large force of British
and Indians under the joint leadership of
General Proctor and the cruel Tecumseh
had beseged Fort Meigs on the Maumee,
but the gallant defense made by General
Harrison had shown the allies that it was
not to be taken by either assault or strate-
gem.
Now that the seige had been abandoned,
the allies would turn back enraged over
their discontinue, and the tomahawk and
scalpng knife would deyastate the Mau
NEE country.
proctor and Tecumseh comng?' cried a
boy who heard the news from the mounted
II viii run down to the fort to see if it is
in trim for n siege"
The fort" mentioned 10y the backwoods
boy was Il log cabin which had been aban-
doned by its original builders. Owing to the
presence of a bobolinks nest near they had
called it Fort Bobolink and the boy settlers
were determined to defend il to "the last
extremity When Ned Talcot reached
Fort Bobolink, the sun was setting, and
after a brief inspection he ran back to the
settlement, where he found all in a state of
alarm.
A hurried council of war between the
seven boys of the settlement and the WON
en- was held.
I'VE can't defend the scattered cabins
We may altogether defend Fort Bobolink,'
said Ned There is no telling how soon
the allies will show up in this section. but
if they really have abandoned the siege they
are liable to be here this very night"
The council of war at once decided unani-
mously to 90 at once to Fort Bobolink and
so, taking all the guns in the settlement,
with other things which they thought
would be needed, they marched down to the
fort and prepared for the expected attack
The sun went down, and the lung shad.
ows Of twilight stole through the forests.
Captain Ned had stationed his guards
within the fort with military precision,
and every few minutes he made the rounds
to see that watchfulness was not abated
The mothers had put the youngest children
to sleep and now with watchful eyes they
waited i'll the darkness for the foe.
AT 10 o'clock "A bright moon in its third
quarter matte its appearances This gave
some light and enabled the boys to see the
outlines of the trees.
Suddenly one of the young sentries, look
ing through loophole, discerncd moving
figures where moment before he had seen
but waving grass. He signaled Captain
Ned and they watched the figures together
"The enemy have GOMEZ" said the boy as
he turned back and faced the women.
In an instant the seven young defenders
of the cabin stood at the loopholes with
rifles in their hands.
Gradually the skulking figures drew
closer, till at last they halted among the
stumps just in front of Fort Bobolink.
They were savages, as the boys could now
see by their dress They wore feathers in
their scalp locks and carried guns in the
hollows of their naked arms. 1t was the
advance force of the frontier scourges, and
the boys of the Maumee knew that before
daylight the bloody work would begin.
Half II dozen braves We're within easy rife
shot of the fort, and as the boys watched
them they put their heads together and
pointed toward Fort Bobolink, while they
talked in tones TOO low to bedlstinguished.
The six Indians had separated and were
crawling through the grass toward the fort
taking good care TO keep in the ladows OF
the stumps Of the clearing but now and
then the watchful boys caught sight OF
dark red bodies that seemed to possess the
movement and the cunning of serpents.
} 1t was "A moment of suspense to all on the
= inside, and IA babe that cried. just then was
Il seized by its mother and hastily hushed
: Don't fre!" said Ned Let them show
their intentions, We are on the inside
: with 10 good rifles and stanch logs around
: us"
: Five minutes later one of the savage,
|. rose and ran up to the door. In another
1 moment he had struck it with the handl,
of his tomahawk.
The blow sounded like a knell of doom t.
the women huddled in the little fort.
white squaw openw exclaimed the In
dian. News from white soldiers with Har
rison."
This was too evidentlya stratagem to ge
the door open, aud it did not succeed. Afte
u silence the Indian was heard to growl I,
himself as he fell back to his companions
Now for it" said Captain Ned as he saw
all six Indians rise and rush forward.
The door had been well barricaded will
strong planks, but still the defenders of tn
cabin feared that the savages might Gu
through, and they would then have them a
their mercy.
Without their usual yell the Indian
dashed upon the fort, but that instant the
were met with a sheet of flame which SCENE,
90 SINCE their cheeks.
1t was the first volley in defense of For
Bobolink, and right royalty had it beel
given.
Three of the Indians threw up thei
hands and fell back in the grass, while tn
others stood for moment apparently be
reft of reason.
When the living foes realized what haE