Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-07-01

placed in q bracket against th,
wall, Illuminated the scene, and
the dark form stood distinctly out
lined. The whole import flashed
upon the boys mind in q second o.
time, and the next he rushed for.
ward.
William. what are you dsing ?
hs cried And HE voice rang oai
with a fierceHess that was startling,
The huge, skulking figure turned
suddenly, and Tom saw the face oi
Black Joe. one of the most trusted
of the negroes.
It's all right, masss,' he said,
in whining tone. Il was Jest a
gwine ter take breff oh fresh air.
IL am powerful hot in here.
1t is not all right, either, you
traitor. = replied Tom, cody put
ting his gun to his shoulder and
covering the burly form. Replace
those bolts. Where's Frank ? Have
you killed him?'
A slight rustic in the opposite
corner of the hallway attracted his
attention, but he did not allow his
eyes to wander from the towering
figure of Black Joe.
Frank " he shou Jed.
No response.
Bill. Scipio, Caesar =
Half a dozen negroes came run
ming down the stairs, but paused
suddenly, with uplifted hands. and
uttered an ejaculation in chorus
'Golly
Here. you fellows, bring a rope
and tie this rascal" " commanded
Tom: and then to Black Joe, who
looked as if he would like to make
a rush upon his youthful antago-
mist, he observed, quietly, 'Don't I
stir, if you value your life. This
bullet is just your size exactly.
The black scoundrel WINGED, but
he made no resistance, and very
reluctantly submitted to be bound.
In few moments he was lying
as helpless as a babe, guarded by
Cesar and Scipio, VINO had orders
not to leave him.
'The wretch would have sacr:fi-
ced our lives to the enemy said
Tom. He deserves to die: but we
will wait till Colonel Bulow gets
back, then
He was interrupted by a chorus
of wild yells, and the next instant
q terrible shock, like that Of bat
tering-ram, almost drove the door
from its hinges.
The Seminoles " gasped the ne
groes, running into groups, with
frightened faces.
TO the loopholes every one of
you who can handle a gun" cried
Tom, with sudden earnestness. i
must see to Frank
He found the poor fellow bound
and gagged, and thrown behind a
row of barrels as though he had
been bundle of hay.
When liberated, he said that he
had been surprised and disarmed
by Black Joe before he could make
an alarm.
We'll. the wretch shall receive bis
just deserts, but we have other work
nov. Hear the red fieHds yell :
1t seemed as IL the house was
surrounded by them, and their
skulking figures could be seen on
all sides as the besieged peeped out
of the loopholes. Not a light
shone in the house save the one IN
the lower hail, and all within was
in darkness.
The catamounts mean business,
said Frank; but we must not let
them hammer that door again.
There, they're are coming. Let g
take the two front fellows. will
try the one on the right
The two bows were in the second
story, and az the line Of savages
came forward, they had an excel
lent opportunity TO take aim, which
was well improved. for the two
| leading Indians dropped in their
: tracks.
Again . cried Tom, seiziHg an
/ extra musket.
Once more two streams of Ere
flashed out from the loophoiss, and
two more Indians fell.
The others let the timber fail
and staggered back
They won't try that trick yery
soon again. said Tom, exultantly