The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-12-22

not look out from my seat. But be
hind me there was chink between
the logs, from which some of th,
children had pulled the basswooC
bark which bad been stuffed into it
was little crevice not more than al
inch wide All the time we wer,
reading in the Testament, | KEEP
peeping out of the crevice, for it wa,
on the back side, and | could see tn,
road along which Lettie had to come
and out into the timber above tn,
road
Sle was nowhere In sight.
The master reprimanded me fol
looking ont, for | had lost my plac,
in the Testament when my turn came
to read.
We shall have to stop that hole
up" Mr. Fifeld said. That made
Clint and Merced Bean laugb, for the
two knew why | was peeping through
it.
Then the first class in arithmetic
was called. This YVES my class; bu
as | got up [ stole another glance
through the crevice, and a strange
object caught my eye.
Out on the edge of the woods where
the burnt piece which had been clear
ed for the schoolhouse bordered the
timber, l caught sight of some object
crawling slowly forward from behind
a root.
There were dry fire weeds and
sprouts in the way. [ could not see
the object distinctly. But it crawled
along to the blackened stub of a great
y8llQY birch, and Strengthened up be
hind it, as if TO climb 1t. Then ! saw
an Indians head thrust stealthily out
from one side of the old stub. and the
savage looked towards the school
house.
/ cannot describe the feeling that
the sight gave me. 1t flashed into
my mind in an instant that it was al
Indian that | had seen down the slew
and that he had waylaid Lettie.
George cried Mr. Fiield, sharp
ly, ''take your place III the class"
Master said l, with a very white
face | suppose, there's an Indian
out doorsn
WHAT" exclaimed Mr.. Fifeld.
There's an Indian with gun
watching the schoolhouse!' | re
peated Mr.. Fitield started to go tC
the window. But Clint exclaimed :
Don't look out, master. | wouldn't
look out"
Il don't believe there is an Indian
watching the achoolh0use," said Mr.
E'ifield rather sternly, for he was on,
Of patience with NE for behaving as
had
Then come here, sir" said |, "anC
look ont of this crack"
Instead Of doing that, he walked
boldly up to the back window, and
with MS face close up to the glass
looked out
The next thing I recollect WINS hear
ing the sharp report of a rifle, the
shivering Of the glass, the fragments
of which flew across the room, and
seeing Mr. Fitield fall back into the
isle! He never uttered a sound. He
was killed instantly.
Two OF three frightful war whoops
came at the same moment. Imagiue
if you can, what panic there was il
the scboolhousel The little scholars
all began to scream.
Get down under the benches, out
of sight, every one Of yOuw shouted
Clint, as he ran to the door to put uI
the prop against it. We had Kept
large prop IN the room ever since
the report of Indians attacking the
settlers, began to come to US. After
putting it up. Clint called Charley tC
bel p hin hold 1t.
1t was hardly in its place before the
door wds tried and violently sha ken
Then came heavy thpds against it, as
If from stone or log. 1t was plank
door, and the prop held it. But We
heard the savages begin TO hack anC
chop at 1t with their hatchets or axes
| had got my gun from the corner
where Mr.. Fifeld allowed us to sci
our guns, but there was only a part
ridge charge in it. We could hear
the savages running around the house
and a moment after a great stone
crashed through the fonr pane window
on the south side. Glass and stone
flew over the benches The whole
window was knocked in
The little scholars screamed again
One of the red skins jumped up out.
side, al catching hold of the window
sill with his hands, thrust in his head
and yelled at US. He was an ugly
looking wretch more like a demon
than human being.
The moment his head came in, al
most without thought, l fired at him
1t was only charge of small shot
yet the muzzle of the gun was hardly
ten feet from the savage. He gave {
howl, and | heard him tumble dowI
outside the window,
The scoundrels probably supposed
we were all children, and had nc
thought that we had guns. They ex
pected, no doubt, to get our young
seal ps without much trouble.
l had hardly fired at the savage il
the window when the two at the door
cut through and stove in one of the
pauels. In came the muzzle of 1
gum Charley and Clint jumped of
the prop and lodged 10 one side, as
the Indian freq into the room. Clint
ran at once and seized his own gun.
The next moment the prop slipped
down and both of the Indians came
ID, headlong! One, thick, coarse
faced ruffian lad al axe: the other, a
very tall Indian. had the gun he had
just fired through the door.
The instant they tumbled in Clint
fired at the one with the axe Drop
ping the axe. the red skin clappec
both hands over MS stomach. and Will
a fearful squeal, ran out, half doubled
up.
| hadn't had time to reload; but
knew that the tall Indians gun wa
empty. So | raised mine and tool
aim at hitn, as if l was going TO shoot
Out he went at one leap after th,
other. to escape being shot.