The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-03
WHITE MANS WINGS.


up from Salem to the banks Of the Mcrri-
mac Mt what is now Concord, n II. The
new country was fertile, and on brond
plain in II bend of tho great river IL pros
porous little hamlet was growing
The home of the Whitakers was one OF
the IL garrison houses of Pcnucook. Dur
ing colonial times houses in new settle
ment were built so rs to he easily defended
Ia case of al attack from savages. Strong
walls of hcwn timber, carried up rs 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 I'M Indian raid was unprecedented.
sometimes number Of dwellings were in
closed i'll such u fertilization.
Laban was tho 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 SO
large household 1t usually devolves on
one of the younger members to do the
chores. This part of the labor fell Rener-
ally upon Laban.
But he was stout, sturdy boy, quite
willing to perform tho duties that fell to
him. These We're to go to the mill when
ever the family supply of rye and In
dian" was exhausted, to cut and carry in
the garden and TO herd the cows
There were no fenced Enclosures for pns-
turage purposes in early penacook The
COWS OF the settlers ran ut large in tho
WOODS and meadows, and the boys took
turns i'll guarding them through the day
and driving them up ut night. AS two
boys watched Mt n time, and as there were
about dozen lads in tho settlement, it
consequently bccame Laban's turn once a
week to he out with the cows.
1t was not hard work, and when it was
not stormy weather Laban rather liked it,
The danger attending il was just sufficient
to give Il certain zest to the employment,
Tor 1t was in the time of the French and
Indian war. Two or three years before
tins band of Indians had lain in ambush
in the forest and shot down seven of tho
settlers as they were passing from the town
to garrison Il few miles distant Since
then, although other settlements had felt
the scourgc, pcnacOok had not been mo
Tested. Still the settlers were not ,incon-
scious of the danger that any day might
sweep down upon them.
Sentrcs stood on guard tlay and night.
Every pioneer carried his mIsket to his
work i'll the fields, and on Sunday the con-
gregation went armed to man to the lit
tie log meeting house Even tho minister
kept his firclock by his side in the pulpit
as he read from the word of God Such
was life OH the New England frontier $50
years ago.
One bright June day Laban and another
boy named Ezra Kimball went out togetli-
er to watch the cows. Both boys had their
fintlock muskets and with them went
Rover, large brindled mnstlr that be-
longed to the Kimlall lad
The cows had fed farther than was usu-
al that day, and when the long afternoon
drew to II close the boys were n 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, balny air was full of charm
The smoke rising from the chimncys of
the cabins down in the valley, where the
settlers wives were cooking their late sup
per, gave II pleasant touch to the land
scapc.
a great hush had suddenly come over
the forest. Not n birds note was to he
heard. The Stiffness like that of Sab
bath, struck the boys attention, and they
looked at each other with n sudden fear
blanching their tanned faces Rovers
sharp bark in front rcassured them, how
ever, and they hurried OH through the
glimmering twilight.
Before them was n little dell through
which brook meandcrcd with low, mu-
steal gurgles. Alders lined tho valley, and
the trunk of fallen tree of hugo dimen-
sions lay beside the narrow path
Indians, Indians!' rose from the white
lips OF Ezra kimball ns he sprang back
ward. He had caught the glimpse of red
legs behind the alder bushes.
instantly II dozen savagcs rose UP from
their hiding place behind the fallen tree
trunk and the cOpse of aldcrs. 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 moment to
think, but it was long enough to save him.
Ho allowed himself to fall suddenly an
inert body across the wild wood path. 1t
was done so quickly that the Indian could
not turn or evade the stumbling block in
his way. He pitched headlong over it and
fell PROSTATE upon the earth. With sharp,
fierce yelp Rover rushed upon the fallen
savage, throttling and tearing him in a
terrible manner.
In the excitement Ezra sprang to his
feet and dashed Off.
"Run to the fort and arouse the set
tiers" shouted Lnban after him.
But Ezra did not need the incentive. A
few shots were fired after him, but he es-
capped without Il scratch to alarm tho set
tlcmclt
Not so Fortunate was I.aban. He was
led away !hrcuHh the wilderness. His
cHptors Travelled III that night, never halt
inE iii! they \.rry miles from the little set
ilcncns on the Mcrrlnnc.
The han;! of warriors had been detached
from II larger war party, and in the morn