The Portland daily press., 1894-01-16
AT FORT BOBOLINK.

proctor and Tecumseh have abandoned
che siege of Fort Meigs, and THEREFORE are
coming this wayP'
These words were shouted by man who
rode through the Maumee forests one day
in the summer of 1913. They blanched the
cheeks of every listener.
The rider bestrode 81 feet horse, who's
tanks gave evidence of hard riding, and as
be galloped from cabin to cabin with the
terrible announcement mothers seized
their children and involuntarily 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
lad besieged 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
scalping knife would devastate the Maui
NEE country.
Proctor and Tecuniseh comingT" cried a
boy who heard the news from the mounted
messenger sent ahead to alarm the frontier
II will run down to the fort to see if it is
In trim for siege.'
The fort" mentioned by the backwoods
boy was a log cabin which had been aban-
dened by its original builders. Owing to the
presence OF a bobolink's nest near they had
called it Fort Bobolink, and the boy settlers
were determined TO defend it to 1.-THE last
extremity When Ned Talcot reached
Fort Bobolink, the sun was setting, and
after brief inspection he ran back to the
settlement, where he found all in a state OF
alarm.
A hurried council of war between tn
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
il 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 go 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 long 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 in the darkness for the foe.
AT 10 o'clock d bright moon in its third
quarter made its appearance. 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, discerned moving
figures where moment before he had seen
but waving grass. He signaled Captain
Ned and they watched the figures together.
1.-The enemy have comep' said the boy as
be turned back and faced the women.
In an instant the seven young defenders
OF the cabin stood at the Ioopholes 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
the boys of the Maumee knew that before
daylight the bloody work would begin.
Half dozen braves were 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 be distinguished
The six Indians had separated and were
crawling through the grass toward the fort,
70 81. a
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 moment OF suspense to all on the
INSIDE. and babe that cried just then was
seized by its mother and hastily hushed.
Don't fire." said Ned. Let them show
their intentions. We are on the insif :.
with 10 good rifles and stanch logs around
u.s."
Five minutes later one of the sayages
rose and ran up to the door. In another
moment he had struck it with the handle
OF his tomahawk.
The blow sounded like knell of doom to
TIE women huddled in the little fort.
White squaw openl" exclaimed the In
dian. 'News from white soldiers with Har-
risen"
This was too evidently a stratagem to get
the door open. and it did not succeed. After
silence the Indian was heard to growl to
himself as he iell back to his companions
Now tor it," said Captain Ned as he saw
all six Indians rise and rush forward.
The door lad been we'll barricaded with
strong planks, but still the defenders OF the
cabin feared that the savages might cut
through, and they would then have them at
their mercy.
Without their usual yell the Indians
dashed upon the fort, but that instant they
We're met with sheet of fame which seemed
to SINCE their cheeks.
1t was the first volley in defense of Fort
Bobolink, and right royalty had it been
given.
Three of the Indians threw up their
hands and fell back in the grass, while the
Others stood for moment apparently be-
reft of reason.
When the living foes realized what hap