Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-01-04

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CHAPTER XII.-(Continued)
By q. A. HENTY

"dOn't you remember we left two loop
hopes in each room, when We built it, on
purpose, only putting in pieces Of wood
and filling up the cracks with clay to
keep out the wind?'
''Of course we did, Hubert. I remem-
Der all about it now. Run down and tell
them to be ready to pull the wood out
and to fire through when they hear the
next rocket go off. [ am going to send
another light rocket over in the direction
where l saw the horses; and directly [
get the line l will send off cracker rocket
after cracker rocket as quickly as l can
al them. What with the fire from below
among them, and the fright they will get
when they see the horses attacked, they
are sure to make rush for it."
In q minute Hubert came back with
the word that the men below were ready.
In moment a rocket scared far away to
behind the house; and just as its light
broke over the plains another one swept
over in the direction Of a dark mass of
animals, seen plainly enough in the dis
lance.
A cry of dismay burst from the In
dians rising in yet wilder alarm as three
shots were fired from the wall Of the
house into their crowded mass. Again
and again was the discharge repeated,
and with a yell of dismay a wild rush
was made for the fence. Then the boys
with their carbines, and Mr.. Hardy with
the revOlvers, opened upon them, every
shot telling in the dense mass who strug-
gled to surmount the fatal ratings.
FrenZed with the danger, dozens at
tempted to climb them, and, strong as
were the wires and posts, there was a
cracking sound, and the whole side fell.
In another minute, of the struggling mass
there remained only some twenty motion
less forms. Three or four more rockets
were sent off in the direction where the
horses had been seen, and then another
signal rocket, whose light enabled them
to see that the black mass was broken
up, and that the whole plain was covered
with scattered figures Of men and ami
mails, all flying at the top of their speed.
THANK God, it is all over, ana we are
safe!' Mr. Hardy said solemnly. Never
again will an Indian attack be made up
on Mount Pleasant. 1t is all o1er now,
my DEAR" he said to Mrs. Hardy as he
went down the stairs; they arg off all
over the country, and it will tske them
hours to get their horses together again.
Two of us have got scratched with ar
rows, but no real harm is done Char
ley's is only a flesh wound. Don't be
frightened" he added quickly, as Mrs.
Hardy turned pale and the girls gave a
cry at the appearance of Charley's face,
which was certainly alarming. "a little
warm water and bandage will cut it all
right"
DO you think it will leave a scar?'
Charley asked rather dOlorously.
well, Charley, | should not be sur
prised if it does; but it won't spoil your
beauty long, your whiskers will clver it;
besides, scar won in honorable conflict
is always admired by ladies, you know.
Now let us go downstairs; my arm, too,
wants bandaging, for it is beginHing to
smart amazingly; and l am sure we all
must want something to eat"
The supper was eaten hurriedly, and
then all but Terence, who, as a MEASURE
of precaution, was stationed as watch
man on the tower, were glad to lie down
for few hours sleep. At daybreal; they
were up and moving.
Mr.. Hardy requested that neither his
wife nor daughters should go outside the
house until the dead Indians were ramov-
ed and buried, as the sight could nSt but
be a most shocking one. Two o. the
poems were ordered to put in the oxen
and bring up two carts, and the rest of
the men set about the unpleasant dUSy Of
examining and collecting the slain.
These were even more numerous chan
Mr.. Hardy had anticipated, and shaved
how thicliy they must have been cluater-
ed round the door and windows. The
guns had been loaded with buckshot, two
bullets he dropped down each barrel in
addition; and the discharge of these bad
been most destructive, more especially
those fired through the loophOles at the
end of the house. There no less than six-
teen bodies were found, while around the
door and windows were thirteen Otkars.
All these were dead. The guns, having
been discharged through loopholes breast
high. had taken effect upon the head and
body.
At the fence were fourteen. OF these
twelve We're dead, another still breathed,
but was evidently dying, while one had
only a broken leg. UnQuestionably tev-
eral others had been wounded, but had
managed to make off. The bullets of re-
volvers, unless striking a mortal poiDt,
disable q wounded man much less tkan
the balls of heavier caliber. 1t was &Fi-
IDENTIFY useless to remove the Indian who
was dying; all that could be done for
him was to give him little water, and
to place a bundle of grass so as to raise
his head. Half an hour later he was
dead. The other wounded man was ear
ried carefully down to one Of the sheds,
where a bed of hay was prepared A3r
him. Two more wounded men were
found down by the cattle Enclosures, and
these also Mr.. Hardy considered likely
to recover. They were taken up and la5d
by their comrade. Three dead bodies
were found here. These were all TAKEN
in the bullock carts to spot distant
nearly half mile from the house.
Here, by the united labor of the peoEg.
n large grave was dug, six feet wide, IS
much deep, and twelve yards long. In
this they were laid side by side. two
deep; the earth was filled in, and the TUT
replaced. At Huberts suggestion, two
young palm trees were taken out of thu
garden and placed one at each end. orI