The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-11-14

began fshswhich lasted for an hour,
! during which the had killed two and
wounded another of their number.
| The redskins had at length drawn off,
and the brave girls first thought was
OF the soldiers on the mountainside.
She hoped we had heard the firing and
wonld como down to Investigate, but
as midnight came without us she left
| her shelter and headed for our camp,
I knowing ut any step she might run
against Il prowIing Indian, but yet
! determined to warn and save us.
! We were soldiers and by no means
novices in Indian warfare, and We!
none OF us Grumbled when she assumed
the leadership and passed the word to
slowly fall back on the cabin. The
Indians pressed us every foot of tbs
way, and but for the darkness of !he
night and the girls familiarity with
the Ivy Of the ground not one OF Il:
would have escaped. We were no
sooner sheltered by the cebin than il
was clear that We must stand scigc
before the door could be opened again.
I Bakers cabin, as l have told you,
was q pretty substantial aHair, its
walls being Of rock and its roof OF
dirt. Here and thers'were loopholes.
and the door was heavy enough to stop
a ballet. In leaving the fort we had
been provided with one hundred
rounds Of ammunition per man. Ia
our retreat from camp the four Of us
had brought Of our carbincs and
cartridges. The girl was armed with
q Winchester, for which sue had q
bountifu! supply Of ammunition, and,
when We came to take stock, we knew
that we could hold out for q week, 50
far as having the means OF defence.
1t was the question Of food and water
which made every ono look serious.
There wasn't food enough TO give the
five Of us a square meal and not 4 drop
OF water inside the walls. The spring
from which it WAS obtained, as wanted,
was two hundred feet away, and it
would be running the gauntlet OF
death to attempt to reach it.
SWELL" said "Jca Bakers GAL"
when we bad canvassed our situation
and It's chances, eve must put up Will
things as they ars and do OR lest.
The Indians have cnclrclcd the cabin
and will be on TIE watch the rest OF
the night, but they will make no move
until daylight comes. Let US sleep ii
We can"
She went to Ter room md the four
OF us lay down on the !soor and mapped
until daylight came. I.lo Indians
counted on Us as o sure priZe and only
needed to be vig;lant while night lsst-
ed to see that wo did nos escape.
There was bat little firing during tho
lest Of the night, and none ct all dur.
Ing the first hour Of daylight. From
the loopholes we saw the Indians NOV
ing about, however, and it was clear
thss they were all around US and in
strong force. In the larder there
were about five pounds OF flour and
two OF three pounds OF bacon-noth-
ing else. The Soutbreak might or
might not be known at the fort. Even
if it was the Colonel would hesitate
before weakening his slender garrison
to send column to our relief. He
would rather expect us to fight our
way through or dodge about and come
in singly as fusitives. There was no
telling how long we should be cooped
up to live on those scant rations, and
by common consent We went without
breakfast. The Indians cooked their
morning meal in leisureIy manner
and it was sometime after sunrise be-
fore they made their frsS move. It
was band with "Chief Charlie" in
command, and he knew Baker and the
girl even better than we did. Baker
had hunted with him, and on one oc-
casion had saved his Life, and he called
at the cabin on various occasions and
had been Hospitality received. He
Was therefore probably in earnest
when lie advanced alone and unarmed
to within few feet OF the cabin and
said to Mary:
eve are on the wacpath against the
whites, and We mean to kill, kill, kill
until all are dead or driven away.
Your father saved my life, end m In
dian never forgets. I Go not want
harm to come to you, and you shall
take your horse and ride away to the
fort IN safety"
"But what about the solaiers?" she
asked from one Of the loopholes.
"They cannot co." he replied.
';The soldiers are here to make war on
us-to shoot us down-to make US
obey orders We do not like. We have
only hatred for them. I know how
many there are in there-four. They
have their guns and will fight, but we
shall kill every one. Come out, and
We will send you safely away"
II shall remain here and help the
soldiers to fight yoc!" answered the
girl.