Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-04-17


self; keep within, and fire through thu
porch. Hunter. take the east side
there. Joyce. you stand by the west
my man. Mr.. Trelawney, you are the
best shotgun and Gray take this long
north side, with the five loop holes;
it's there the danger is. If they can g6
up to 1t, and fire in upon us through
our own ports. things would begin to
look dirty. Hawkins, neither you nor
l are much account at the shooting;
We'll stand by to load and bear hand"
AS the captain had said, the chill
was past AS soon as the sun had
climbed above our girdle of trees II
fell with all its force upon the clear.
ing and drank up the vapors at a
draught. Soon the sand was baking,
and the resin melting in the logs of the
blockhouse. Jackets and coats were
flung aside: shirts We're thrown open
at the neck and rolled up to the
shoulders; and we stood there, each at
his post, in fever of heat and anxiety,
An hour passed away.
Hang them!" said the captain.
This is as dull as the doldrums Gray,
whistle for a wind"
And just at that moment came the
first news of the attack
IF you please, sir" said Joyce, eli
l see anyone, am / to fire?'
| III,
Thank you, SIR" returned joyce.
with the same quiet civility
Nothing followed for a time; but the
renark had set us all on the alert.
straining ears and eyes-the musket.
GERS with their pieces balanced in their
hands, the captain out in the middle
on the block-house, with his mouth
very tight and a frown on his face.
So some seconds passed till suddenly
| Az Il e y
Hired. The report had scarcely died
away ere 1t was repeated and repeat
ed from without in a scattering yolley.
shot behind shot, like a string OF
geese, from every side of the Enclosure.
Several bullets struck the log house.
but not one entered; and, as the smoke
cleared away and vanished, the stock.
AIDE and the woods around it looked
as quiet and empty as before. Not a
Dough waved. not the CLEAN of a
nlusket barrel betrayed the presence
of our ofeS.
Did you hit your MANI" asked the
captain.
mo. sir" replied Joyce. II believe
not sir.
Next best thing to tell the truth"
muttered Captain Smollett. Load his
gun, Hawkins How many should you
say there We're on your side, doctor?"
hiicN I'iSSloSiS, S1Iu III. lLlNGSey.
Three shots We're fired on this side
/ saw the three 1ashes-two close to.
gether-one further to the west"
Three" repeated the captain. "And
how many on yours, Mr.. Trelaw.
ney?"
But this was not so easily answered,
There had come many from the north
SEVEN by the squire's computation;
eight or nine, according to Gray. From
the east and west only single shot
had been fired 1t was plain, therefore,
that the attack would be developed
from the north, and that on the other
three sides we We're only to be an
noyed by show of hostilities. But
Captain Smolett made no change in
his arrangements. If the mutineers
succeeded in crossing the stockade, he
argued. they would take possession OF
any unprotected loop hole and shoot
us down like rats in our stronghold.
Nor had we much time left to us for
thought. Suddenly. with loud huzza,
little cloud of pirates leaped from the
woods on the north side and ran
straight on the stockade. AT the same
moment the fire was once more opened
from the woods, and a rifle ball sung
through the doorway and knocked the
doctors musket into bits.