Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-04-25

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and had laid their plans well. What did
they wanti Simply plumber; or was it q
mingled desire for plumber and revengei
We had lately learned that they considered
themselves aggrieved by the fact that q
portion Of the land occupied by my father
was q part of their hunting ground.
Anyway, 1 knew that 1 had nothing to
hope from an Indians chivalry, and every
thing to fear from his cold-blooded treach-
cry; and I resolved to hold the fortress
against the Redskins till the last possible
minute.
Whilst these reflections passed rapidly
through my mind, I hurriedly made such
arrangements for the defense as lay in my
power. First, / securely barred the heavy
shutters, noiselessly slipped the bolts of
both ~doors-strong and well made, though
rough-and also put an iron bar across the
door opening into the stockade. l con-
trived to drag a big chest halfway across
the kitchen, whereby / barricaded the
back door; and then / felt, II bolts n
bars could keep out Cherokees, i was safe
for q time. But there was no knowing
what their 1endish ingenuity would de-
wise; and they evidently meant business,
since they had mustered in considerable
force.
/ do not want to make myself out to be
the least bit of a heroine over this encoun-
ter. / was undoubtedly in what school
boys call mo end of q funk but, being
brought to bay in this fashion, / sum
moned to my aid what courage l possessed
and vowed l would resist to the death.
And, in spite of my sickening conviction
of the almost hopeless horror of my fate,
/ was outwardly cool enough, keeping my
wits about me sufficiently to appreciate
and turn to account such slight advantages
as were on my side. / even experienced q
certain odd citation in the thought that no
one l loved was with me, sharing but not
lessening, the awful danger in which l
stood. / have all my life found it easier
to be calm in the presence Of death and
peril when meeting them alone, knowing
that my best-beloved, at least, were safe
and free.
My small attempts at defence were speed
fly completed, and / assembled the ladder
to the upper story, where / placed a lamp
in the window of the room overlooking
the prairie, since that, / knew, would
probably be the way by which my father
would return, and the unusual signal
might possibly warn him of his danger.
Lastly, / retreated to my own room n
fastened the door.
The whole Of my arrangements, from
the moment that 1 decided the moving
log was an Indian to the instant / locked
myself into my room, occupied something
under five minutes, as nearly as I can tell,
but my action had been significant enough
for the cunning Cherokees, who instantly
prepared for the attack.
l fancy they had intended to surround
the house quietly, and then rush in md
overpower me before / could offer the
slightest resistance. But / had been
keener Of sight, prompter in action than
they anticipated, having taken the alarm
whilst the scouts were lying in ambush.
There was no mistaking my position
now, l thought, looking down cautiously
from my window, which l took the pre-
caution partly to barricade with my mat
tress, and beholding a score or more Of
hideous dusky forms below, moving
stealthily in the twilight like so many
cowardly, cruel hy9nas thirsting for my
blood.
/ caught up a spare revolver lying upon
the kitchen shelf and n few cartridges as 1
retreated, but | resolved to be very eau
tious and remain strictly upon the defen-
sive. / had apparently baf1led my foes for
a brief space, and they were consulting, 1
judged by their gestures, as to the course
they should pursue.
Suddenly they raised q hideous yell
which made my blood run cold, and flung
themselves upon the barricaded doors and
windows, absolutely shaking the house
with the fury OF their assault, but the
good bolts withstood their united efforts;
and the next minute q shower of arrows
came rafting against the upper easements
whilst n voice cried to me to come down,
to surrender, as well as l could make out
from the little Cherokee / had learned
from the squaws.
The aim of those poisoned arrows was
so accurate that the Indians twice sue
ceeded in extinguishing by beacon-lamp;
and | had to remove 1t to the opposite end
Of the room, still keeping it in a line with
the window. Then | cautiously raised a
corner of the mattress and replied with
my revolver, firing rather at random into
the bowling, threatening horde below.
1 was anything but q crack shot, but
my brothers had taught me how to and
and fire a revolver, and l determined 10
sell my life as dearly as possible, silently
vowing that the Cherokees should never
take me alive-I would so far be mistress
of my fate.
My answering fire produced an uneX-
pected effect. They had not dreamed of a
despised pale-faced squaw daring to defy
them s~ingle-handed; and, when l recon
noitered, l saw l had hit somebody, who
was laid out on the ground to mediate
! ot hfa 1aia,,ro nf cprrca tho nnYt minnie
my mattress was stuck full of arrows like
a target, and again and again the Red-men
uttered their w~ar-whoop and rushed upon
the house, hoping to carry the position by
main force. They felt they had me Xix q
coon in a trap, in spite of my resistance
but at nineteen one dies hard, and refuses
to give up hope till the last gasp. Every
minute I could keep the tiends at bay gave
me a further chance of life.
l looked at my fast-lessening store OF
ammunition, and then l laid aside q cou'
pie Of cartridges for the agonizing r1o
ment when I must acknowledge the game
to be played out. Even then, standing
alone, above my tigerish foes, so full o.
health and strength and life and love,
could not realize that my life was mum
bered by minutes, or that, humanity speak
ing, l should never look upon another
sunset, or see the moon rise once more
Before another hour / should be past al
pain, "beyond the reach of hands" anc
some day / should be able to tell Charlie!
tempted my last shots into the seethint
mass of dusky beings bowling around mt
one lonely defenceless woman. The!
were quick to appreciate the fact that
had ceased to fire, and the shouts and YELL
grew more exultant as a tall flame shot III
suddenly into the gray dusk. What wer'
the flends about now?
1 soon understood-they had failed t.
force an entrance, and were determined u
burn me out.
All, merciful Heavenl Then it was,