Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-09

 sisters fell at once to telling their beads and muttering fearful prayers, but the priest came forward with tis rifle grasped in firm hand, and taking long look at the log said:
 "Keep up n good heart, my daugh ters. Something may happen to aid us, and in tho meantime we must try to aid ourselves. Senor Raymer. am soldier under your orders Command me"
 ''Thank you, father. have no doubt but you will give a good account of yourself should the Indians reach us. You see these blocks and blanks lean- ing against the wall?''
 "Yes; they are the stops to the win dows and doors, are they not?"
 ''They are. Should it become neces- sary for us D quickly close the doors and windows want you and your man to stop those on the east side, and the sergeant and I will close these. Let us practice closing a few times now"
 The practice was held, with good suo- cess, and tho men gathered again on the western side.
 no you think wo can keep the In- dians off until help arrives?" asked the padre.
 Perhaps We must be ready to take advantage of all possible accidents. Tho prospect looks dubious, and the enemy outnumbers us, but much may occur be- fore that tree reaches our cabin"
 We will mako them pay a good price for our lives in any event. :"
 The lieutenant took the priest by the right hand, and the two men looked into tach others eyes with a confidence and respect begot of tho resoluto spirit each recognized in the other. - The priest rejoined tho sisters, and dropping upon his knees joined them ill a prayer for aid. Tho lieutenant and sergeant bowed reverently in the oppo- site doorways, and at the close uttered audible amens.
 The two soldiers and the priest again gathered at the western door and win dow and silently and anxiously watched the slowly rolling log as it came more plainly into view. Not a glimpse of the motive power could be obtained, but it ground and crunched its way along with ominous certainty straight toward the cabin.
 Raymer turned over in his mind many projects for staying its progress and dis missed them regularly as impractica- ble. At the rate the log was moving the men could hope for no assistance from the valley in season to save their lives. Just as the lieutenant had como to this conclusion tho log stopped. He looked through his glass and saw the cause.
 Sergeant, he exclaimed, "the log has struck a rock. Draw q bead on tho logl Don't let man jump over it to re- move the stone!"
 The sergeant stood at the open door, the barrel of his riflo pressed against the right dOorpost ready for a movement of the enemy above tho tree, which had, ill fact, struck tho only obstacle lying between its starting place and the cabin. All the efforts of the prostrate men be- hind it had no effect upon the log OK cept to swing the end farthest from the obstacle slightly ahead.
 ''There seems to be nothing for them to do but to remove the stone. Keep a sharp eye on the log, sergeant.
 Raymer had hardly spoken when a sudden discharge of rifles ran irregular ly along the length of the log, and un- der cover of the fire and smoke q stall wart warrior leaped over, seized tho stone and had lifted it nearly to the top when Sergeant Cunningham's rife spoke sharply.
 The stone dropped on the side toward the cabin. The Indian fell forward, with his arms extended toward his friends. A second warrior sprang upward to pull Is, T from the priests rife made him topple backward. Hands then drew the first Indian backward without exposing the bodies to which they belonged The fire of the Navajoes did no harm.
 The blaze on the roof was replenished from time to timo and the vigilant watch maintained.
 For 0 long time the log remained mo- tionless. At last tho sergeant, who was still looking from the doorway, ex- claimed:
 Lieutenant, the stone is moving! It's sinking into the ground''
 Raymer at the moment was looking from the eastern window. By the time he joined the sergeant there was no stone to be seen in front of the log.
 
 he said. ''They must have dug under heath with their knives and sunk the stone.
 "Yes, sir, and they'ro safe to move that breastwOrk up to tho cabin door and mako an end of us, " said Cunning ham.
 If there wero two or three moro stones in tho way, sergeant, tho delay might serve us until help arrives"
 Let's put them in tho way, ieuten- ant. !"
 What do you mean?" ''If you and the padre will cover me with your rifles, I'll run out there and I drop a couple of big stones ill tho way. "
 All right, sergeant, and when you return I'll drop two more. " Explanations were made to tho priest, and preparations were begun to carry ! out the plan. The sergeant replenished the fire on tho roof and then selected from the loose rubbish which had been torn from the top of the chimney two good sized stones.
 Removing his shoes, the sergeant, with the assistance of the lieutenant, raised the rocks into the hollow of his elbows, holding them firmly against his breast The two others stood with their rifles in their hands at window and doorway and revolvers at their feet. At the word the sergeant started out at 0 rapid walk, setting his feet without noise and going nearly to the moving log He dropped the stones, one before the other, about three yards part, with out attracting the red mems attention, and regained the cabin without a shot being fired on either side. ] Now it was the officers turn. The same preparations were made in his case as in the sergeant's, and he selected stones of nearly the same weight. Feel | ing that he mustsnot be outdone by his