The Opelousas courier., 1896-11-21

ASNAIo W "hA ~
our retreat from camp the four Of us
had brought OFF Il carbines aud
cartridges. The girl was armed with
a Winchester, for which she had q
bountiful supply Of ammunition, and,
! when we came to take stock, we knew
that we could hold out for q week, SO
fsr as having the means of defence.
1t was tho question o. food and water
| which made every u look serious.
There wasn't food enough to give the
five of us q square meal and nota 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" sail "Joe Bakers gal,'
when we had canvassed our situation
and its chances, eve must put up with
things as they are and do our lest.
! The Indians have enclrcled the cabin
and will be on the watch the rest of
the night, but they will make no move
until daylight comes Let US sleep if
we can"
She went to her room and the four
Of US lay down on the floor and mapped
until daylight came. The Indians
counted OF us as a sure prize and only
needed to be yigilant while night last
ed to see that we did not escape.
There was but little firing during the
last Of the night, and none at all dur
ing the first hour OF daylight. From
the loopholes we saw the Indians NOV
ing about, however, and it was clear
that they were all around us and in
strong force. In the larder there
we're about five pounds OF -four ane
two or three pounds Of bacon-noth-
ing else. The goutbreah might or
might not be known at the fort. Even
if it was the Colonel would hesitate
before weakening his slender garrison
to send o column to our relief. He
would rather expect us to fight our
way through or dodge about and cone
in singly as fugitives. 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 a leisurely AMI
and it was sometime after sunrise be-
fore they made their first move. 1t
was a 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 he advanced alone and unarmed
to within o few feet o. the cabin and
said to Mary:
"We are on the warpath against the
whites, and we mean to kill, kill, kill
until all are dead or driven away.
Your father saved my life, and an In.
dian never forgets. I do 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 soldiers?" she
asked from Il of the loopholes.
"They cannot CO." he replied.
HThe soldiers are hare 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"
Il shall remain here and help the
soldiers to fight your answered the
girl.
"Then you will be killed with
them"
The chief turned away and went
back to his warriors, and ten minutes
later there was a circle Of fire all
about the cabin. The loopholes we're
the objects aimed at, and as every red
skin was sheltered from our return
fire we plugged the loopholes up and
did not fire q shot in answer. It was
noon before their fusillade ceased, and
it was almost the last bullet which
penetrated a loophole and struck one
Of the soldiers in the groin. In half
an hour he was dead. From the min
ute he was hit until the death rattle
came the girl sat beside bin, holding
his hand, but helpless to do anything.
When his life went out she rose up
and quietly said:
"Carry the body into my room and
lay it on the floor. Thank God, he
did not cry out for water when We had
none to give!"
We had scarcely removed the body
when the Indians made a rush. There
were usow a full hundred of them.
Some Of rasp carried Il log to batter
in the doofy,7pme climed upon the
roof, some fought with US for posses
sign of the loop.pies. We fired up
through the brtsh1and dirt and
through the looakoleF. and at the end
Of ten minutes vi had beaten them OF,
but we had lost ahothar man. A bull
let had struck him in ths heart and he
had fallen without a groan. In return
We could count five dead Indians out
side and see three or four wounded
crawling away. As We bent over the
man and knew that he was dead the
girl motioned for us to lay him beside
the other, and when we had returned
to the front room it was to beg of her
to accept "Chief Charles" offer, If he
would still hold it good, and secure
her own safety. With only three Of
us left to guard the cabin another such
general attack must overcome us. She
replied that she would not go, and We
at once Set about reloading the carbines
and making ready to defend the cabin