Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-21

/ Il thcss days. We Knew that Va were
do0med. but We meant to exact q high
price for our lives. and had no notion
OF hurrying the ANAL issue. The mu-
tineers. to do them justice. were In no
pressing hurry either. either, They
appreciated the race sufficiently to
know that q handful Of half-staved
and desperate Englishmen were likely
to prove dangerous at close quarters.
and they showed no indecent haste to
come In and finish on the dying lion.
They had us safe. and waited day
or two, with the patience of an ex-
pcrienced grizzly bear sitting under his
victims bough-not venturing into the
compound within range of our fire, but
contenting themselves with shooting
al un from the fort buildings. But
when that last day dawned, we knew
our time had come. There were un-
ln!stskable signs of activity In tho
onemy's camp. 1890
"1hey had dragged couple of smah
gums into the two doorways opening
on to the compound, and pounded
away perseveringly at the tough old
tower. chipping large pieces on the
stones. without doing much damage.
don't fancy they cared to try shells
at that short distance. Now and then
their gunners showed themselves, and
gave us an opportunity of retaliation,
OF which we were not slow to avail our
selves, and we did plenty Of promiscu-
GUS shooting.
1.-THE stairs leading from the base Of
the tower to the roof we're divided
into two flights by a small room or
landing, lit by narrow loopholes and
shut off from the lower flight by n
fairly strong door. The Major took up
his position in this place with some of
the men. Jack and I, with a couple of
others. occupied the roof.
Jack was shooting away with ap-
pslllng regularity. The muscles of his
goed-natured face were set like iron,
his eyes were glittering, his hands cool
and steady. He used two weapons al
ternately, and his wife, with resolute
exp ession on her pale, beautiful face,
stood quietly by him. loading while he
fired, utterly regardless of the hail of
bullets that struck the stonework
around her.
"All at once the guns ceased firing,
and the supply of bullets began to
slacken gradually, and shortly after
we heard the Majors voice below, bel
lowing to us to come down. Jack was
tyvrv ,tv,o ell cxx,1xy he
when / saw him leap suddenly in the
air and fall back, stone dead, by his
wife's side. Poor thing! She sank
down on her knees beside him with a
cry that went to my heart. Still,
could do nothing for her, SO / went
down to the Major.
''He was greatly shocked at my
news, but drew me hastily toward the
loophole by which he was standing.
"'What do you make Of their 81
lence, Ives? Can you guess what their
next move will be?'
II could not, and told him so.
"'They mean to venture a little
more on the stakes, he said, with
grim smile. They are going to run
gun out into the open, in the face of
our bullets, and pour heavy fire into
the door, below. One round of gun
ners will suffice for the work, and they
will doubtless die happy in the knowl-
edge that they are striking the hated
Englishnen's death-blow. Then, the
instant breach is made in the door,
the whole pack of fiends will swarm
out of their cover and storm the
tower
"'And we? / asked, rather lacon-
ically-the programme was not invit-
ing.
1.-The staircase is narrow he re-
piled. sententiously. We have some
left and our swords. The
first heroes through the breach will be
the first in Valhalla' 4
land Mrs. Reeves?' 1 asked, with a
shudder.
"The old gentleman's brave face
twitched slightly. ] read in his eyes
the terrible, Inevitable reply, but be-
fore he could frame the words. touch
on his arm made him turn round. Mrs.
Reeves stood behind us, very pale, but
perfectly composed.
Major she said, my dear hus-
sweet voice faltered for a
minute, then steadied itself-'my hus-
band promised that, If the worst came,
he would keep his last bullet for me.
May l now rely on you to do me this
service? You will not fail me-? she
added, appealingly.
"Her old enemy took the hand rest
ing on his arm, and lifted it gently to
his lips.
Madam he said, in his stately,
way, L am honored by
your request. If the worst happens,
as l greatly fear it will, you may rely
on me. will not fail you. But go
back now-if-if l want you, I will
CALL
"She thanked him gratefully, and re-
turned to her vigil on the roof. We
turned back to our loophole-I think
neither of us could have looked the
other in thS face just then for our
life's ransom.
Suddenly shout from the men at
the opposite loophole, followed by the
crack of their rifles, took us over to
them. The gun on their side had been
run out, as the Major predicted. Two
of the gunners had already fallen.
Two more rolled over lifeless as the
gun was brought into position. The
man who was pointing it fel: by Major
Gardeners hand.