The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-04

each others eyes with a confidence and
respect begot Of the resolute spirit each
in the other.
The priest rejoined the sisters, and |
dropping upon his knees Joined them in
prayer for aid. The 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 we ;ern door and win
dow and silently and anxiously watched
the slowly rolling log as it came more
plainly into view. Not glimpse Of the
motive power could be obtained, but it
ground and orunched 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-
BILE. 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 come to this
conclusion the log stopped. He looked
through his glass and saw the cause.
Sergeant, he exclaimed, 'the log
has struck rock. Draw bead on the
logl Don't let man jump over it to re-
move the stonep'
The sergeant stood at the open door,
the barrel of his rifle pressed against the
right doorpost ready for movement Of
the enemy above the tree, which had,
in fact, struck the only obstacle lying
between its starting place and the cabin.
All the efforts Of the PROSTATE men be-
hind it had no effect upon the log ex-
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
sharp eye on the log, sergeant"
Raymer had hardly spoken when q
sudden discharge of rifles ran irregular
ly along the length of the log, and un-
der cover of the fire and smoke stall
wart warrior leaped over, seized the
stone and had lifted it nearly to the top
when Sergeant Cunningham's rifle
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
his dead brother over the log, and ball
from the priests rifle made him topple
backward. BANDS 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 time and the vigilant
watch maintained.
For long time the log remained mo-
tionless. At last the sergeant, who was
still looking from the doorway, ex-
claimed:
Lieutenant, the stone is moving! It's
sinking into the groundW
| Raymer at the moment was looking
from the eastern window. By the time
he joined the sergeant there was nc
stone to be seen in front of the log.
''It is gone, and here comes the log, -
he said. "They must have dug under
meath with their knives and sunk the
stone"
Eyes, sir, and they're safe to move
that breastwork up to the cabin door
and make an end of u.s." said Cunning.
ham.
1
stones in the way, sergeant, the delay
might serve us until help arrives"
"Let's put them in the way, lieuten'
anti
"What do you mean?"
eff you and the padre will cover me
with your rifles, I'll run out there and
drop couple of big stones in the way
''All right, sergeant. and when yor
return I'll drop two more.
Explanations were made to the priest
and preparations were begun to carry
out the plan. The sergeant replenished
the fire on the roof and then selected
from the loose rubbish which had beer
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 hi
elbows, holding them firmly against hi
breast. The two others stood with theil
rifles in their hands at window an(
doorway and revolvefs at their feet. A
the word tho sergeant started out at {
rapid walk, setting his feet withou
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 sho
being fired on either side.
Now it was the officers turn. TIL,
same preparations were made in his cas-
as in the sergeant's, and he selected
stones Of nearly the same weight. Feel
ing that he must not be outdone by hi
brave comrade, after leaving one ston
in line with the other he took the las
even nearer than any had been placed
As he was about to dropit loud yell o
warning rang from the east side Of tn
ravine, and an Indian looked over tn
log and fired his rifle.
The bullet struck the falling rock AM
sent q shower Of stinging splinters int
Raymer's face He turned and fed, hi
face streaming with blood.
With the discharge Of the Indian