Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-11-19

save us.
nOvices in Indian warfare, and yet
none of us grumbled when she assum-
ed the leadership and passed the word
to slowly fall back on the cabin. The
Indians pressed us every foot of the
way, ana but for the darkness of the
night and the girls familiarity with
the lay Of the ground, not one of us
would have escaped. We were no
sOOner sheltered by the cabin than it
was clear that we must stand Il siege
before the door could be opened again.
Bakers cabin, as | have told you,
was a pretty substantial affair, its
walls being of rock and its roof of
dirt. Here and there were loopholes
and the door IA heavy enough to stop
Il bullet. In leaving the fort we had
been provided with 100 pounds of am
munition per man. In our retreat
from camp the four of us had brought
Off our carbineS and "artridgeS. The
girl was armed with a rifle, for which
she had Il bountiful supply Of ammu-
milton, and when we came to take
stock we knew that we could hold out
for Il week, so far as having the means
of defense. 1t was the question of
food and water which made everyone
look serious. There wasn't food enough
to give the five Of us a square meal
and not Il drop of water inside the
walls. The spring from which it was
obtained, as wanted, was POO feet
away, and 1t would be running the
gantlet of death to attempt to reach 1t.
well" said "Joe Bakers gal" when
we had canvassed our situation and its
chances, I'VE must put up with things
rs they are and do our best. The In
dams have encircled the cabin and
will be on the watch the rest of the
night, but they will make no move I'M
til 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 on us as Il sure prize and only
needed to be vigilant, while night last
ed to see that we did not a There
was but little firing during the last
Of the night, and none at all during the
first hour of daylight. From the loop
holes we saw the Indians moving
about, however, and it was clear that
they were all around us and in strong
force.
In the larder there were about five
pounds of flour and two or three pounds
of Recommending else. The outbreak
might or might not be known at the
fort. Even II 1t was, the colonel would
hesitate before weakening his slender
garrison to send Il column to u re-
lief. He would rather expect us to
fight Il way through or dodge about
and come in Singly us fugitives. There
no telling how long we should
be cooped up to live on those scant ra-
tons, ana by common consent we went
without breakfast.
The Indians cooked their morning
meal in Il leiSurely manner. and it was
some time after sunrise before they
made their first move. 1t WAS a band
with 'Chicf Charlie" in command. and
he knew Baker ana the girl even better
than we did. Baker had hunted with
him and on one occasion had saved
his life, and he called at the cabin on
various occasions and had been hos
pitably received. He was, therefore.
probably in earnest when he advanced
alone and unarmcd to within Il few
feet of the cabin and said to Mary:
1--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 eve forgetS. | 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 one Of the loopholes.
They cannot GO" he replied. THE
soldiers are here to make war on us
to shoot lis down-to make us obey or.
derS we do not like. We have only
hatred for them. l know how man.
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 you!" 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 were the OBJ.
jects aimed AT, and as every redskIn
was sheltered from our return fire we
plugged the loopholes up and did not
Are n shOt In ansu,r 7,