The National tribune., 1902-09-04

be when the crisis came. W hlie TINS was
being done in the cabin the Indians had
lbeen active in arranging their preimina-
ries for their assault The watchful Craig
realized that they were planning to attack
them from all quarters at once. in the hope
of confusing the occupants of the log
dwelling. If he felt any concern over the
ultimate result he did not betray it by
word or look, as he stoieally maintained
his vigil.
The intense silence of the scene was
suddenly broken by the simultaneous dis
charge of half hundred firearms. and for
| n moment ring of fire encircled the be-
sieged home. The first ring was quickly
followed by another outside of it and
larger. the Indians having reserved n por-
tion of their fire. The sides of the cabin
were perforated with bullet-holes. while
the roof was made riddle sieve" as
Craig expressed it.
Craig remained at his post. and as the
smoke cleared away. he saw some of the
Indians approaching at Il rapid pace. He
Judged the majority of his enemies must
he engaged at that moment in reloading
their weapons. His own gun was already
ut his shoulder, and taking swift aim he
fired at the foremost of the oncoming as
saiiants, who sprang into the air and
| dropped i'll his tracks to rise no more.
His death-cry had not ended before the
doughty pioneer had handed the smoking
weapon to his wife, seized the other gun,
and fired his second shot with certain eff
feet. So expertly did the women reload
the guns that inside of two minutes he
had fired four times. and as many red
men were to he counted out of the fight.
AT this the Indians beat n hasty re-
| treat. no doubt thinking from the rapidity
of the firing and the fighting capacity of
| the besieged that they had mscalculated
as to their number. During this brief sus-
pension of hostility the guns were reload
ed and given time to cool In the midst
of this suspense the bleat of a calf came
up from the meadow. Craig clutched his
weapon closer, but made no comment He
never wasted breath in superflOus speech
What do you think of our chances
now asked the younger woman.
Tell better when tn powder is gone''
"Th' lead is about used up" said Mrs
Craig. anXiously.
Cit out some blankets an hang ND SOS
to ketch the lead o tn inemy at their next
flre. said Craig. without removing his
gaze from the loop-hole.
Assisted by her young companion Mrs
Craig did as she was told BY this time
1t was getting dusky, even in the clearing
IF l am not mistaken there is an ami
mai crawling along at the edge of the
growth below u.s. said the young woman
1T may be tn calf" replied Mrs. Craig.
Wolf volunteered her husband, though
he had not seemed to look in the direction.
lie had discovered some of the Indians
approaching with more discretion than be-
fore. Dodging from stump to stump,
rock, or whatever promised shelter, he was
confident score or more We're coming to
renew the unequal battle. Knowing too
well the value of every grain of powder
to waste a shot, Craig continued to watch
the savages in silence. He was following
their movements with sufficient accuracy
to keep track of each dusky enemy. From
among the scattered scouts he had dis
cerned tall figure that he felt certain
was his old acquaintance This became
an assured fact a minute later. when from
behind Il big stump voice called out:
Me know You, Girls; you know Man
esquo. Come out; we give you good quar-
ter"
I'll quarter you!' retorted Craig, "an'
it won't take me but a minnit.''
A volley of bullets pelted the wall and
roof of the cabin in reply to this defiant |
threat The forethought of the pioneer
was now evident from the fact that lead |
enough to make dozen bullets had been |
obtained by means of the biunII;et, But !
there was no way to replenish the stock of |
powder. Mrs. Craig had carefully di- |
vided this into portions barely sufficient |
for different charges, and she found there
was only enough for four rounds
At this moment Craig sighted the top
knot of an Indian. who had incautiously |
exposed his head in order to see what |
effect the last volley had made. He paid |
dearly for his lack of caution by re-
ceivins a bullet in his brain from Craig's |
unerring frearm. Within half a minute |
the latter fired his sixth shot, and for the |
first time, as far as he was able to tell |
missed his man. This brought an excla-
nation of chagrin from him. and in his
anger he neglected to answer Mrs. Craig's |
question:
Are they comm ag'in, Christie?"
The suspense this time was of longer
duration than at any period before. for it |
was fully half an hour later that Craig, |
after having watched several shadowy |
forms fitting to and fro in the growth be-
low. finally declared:
"Firew
'Mercy me"' exclaimed his wife. 'rDo |
they mean to burn us up?"
Have courage" said her young COM
panion taking her hand 1T will be bet
ter to burn up than to fall into their
hands, and if the worst comes | shall rush |
out into the fire. There is that wolf
again. 1t seems to be coming nearer this
time"
Giving no heed to this brief dialogue,
Craig continued to keep steady watch
over the actions of the Indians, as far as
he could discern any of their movements.
Lie was SCltdll lHty were
ward a pile of brush, and, keeping be-
hind this as a sort of shield for their bod
les from his deadly craftsmanship. were
gradually pushing this forward toward the
cabin. Twice the wolf crossed his range
of vision, nearer each time, but in his in
tent watchfulness over his more numerous
enemies he paid no attention to the ami
NAL.
His stern vigil was finally rewarded by
the sight of tiny blaze of light near the
ground This rapidly grew in size and
brightness, until spiral column of flame
leaped higher than a mans head, capped
with wreath of smoke
Mrs. Craig now began to wiring her
hands, and dropping beside her child who
was happily ignorant of the awful peril
envirOniDg the scene, began to pray. The
young woman was calmer. She stood
near Craig standing at his post immutable
as a pillar of wood. He held the larger
gun in his hands, resolved in his heart
that no more powder should be wasted
by him. AT this critical moment, arising
to her feet in heartfelt anguish, and COM
ing forward with the little one in her :
arms, Mrs. Craig hit one of the pewter l.,
vessels holding the precious powder, and i
it fell ON the floor S
Mercy cried the terrified woman,
1--WE spilled the powder! Oh, WHAT
Il will brush it up" said the young
whose name had been neither
asked nor given in the excitement of the
situation. rs that an Indian ot tho In oil |