The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-01-29

every one of them, and when captured
she would herself take inexpressible
pleasure In making targets Of them for
pistol practice. Then she would call
to them for something to eat. They
were too far to hear her, and Of course
her request would not have been grant
ed If they had. Captain, good captain,
dear captain" she cried, "do let us out
Of this! That's dear boy" Then she
turned to Miss Stanforth. Helen,
what in the world did we come on such
an errand as this TO? Why didn't we
send the soldiers?"
Jack" said Helen, 'Tm sorry you
regret It, l don't. l never regret"
"Yo're shown the white feather"
said Buck.
Jacks eyes glistened with anger.
'"The white feather! What do .yo'
mean, yo' little pest? White feather!
I'm not afraid Of all the guerrillas In
| Chrstendom. They won't hurt me.
I'm going down there to ask 'em TO-
something to eat. I'll get yo' all of.
White feather! I'll show yo'w
She sprang upon the rampant, but I
caught her and dragged her back.
LET me go" she screamed.
"Didn' | tole yo' Missy Jack hab de
| biggest temper in de souf?" cried Gin
ger proudly.
LET her CO." said Helen, "and I'll
| 60 with her. If those guerrillas who
| are disposed to protect us can do SO,
they will succeed as well without you
as with you. Indeed, your presence
will only tend to irritate them. Come,
Jack, We'll try It,"
stood aghast at such plan. for
bade it. The girls were determined. l
begged, ordered, stormed at them, de-
claring that for every step they took
toward that den of hellhounds |
would take two. At last Helen laid
on rock and began what to me SEEM
ed an endless vigil.
1t was perhaps an hour after that
| heard unmistakable sounds of the guer-
rillas. I could see nothing, though
| could hear voices, and voices at that
time of night meant mischief. Darling
back to my wood, l set the paper OF
| gunpowder on the rock under the dry
grass keeping little In reserve, and
| got q stone ready to use for Il hammer.
then listened for sign of advance. l
| had not long to wait. man must
have stumbled. At any rate, heard
something which convinced me the enc
my was coming, and, laying on my
percussion powder, l raised the stone
and brought it down.
Horror Of horrors! The grass was
blown away without being kindled.
The last chance was gone! 1t was
dark as pitch; not even Il ray Of moon
light to protect us against the coming
cutthroats.
Wait bit. There are several spears
of grass smoldering, a spark on the
end of each. l gather them and put
the ember ends into the hollow of my
| hand, where l hold the reserve gun
powder. A fash-a mere bit Of flame
no bigger than pea! | nurse 1t and
put more grass with 1t, shove 1t all
under the wood and a beautiful bright
flame shoots up that gladdens my
heart A joyful shout from the fort
sends pleasant thrill through every
fiber in my body.
Ping! A bullet within an inch Of my
nose. dart away into the darkness
and in another minute am In the for
tress.
l had scarcely got behind the breast
works when the glare of the burning
wood showed me half n dozen men
dashlng up to the fire, and knew they
would try to scatter It.
"When | count three, fire into the
crowd. One, two, thrce!'
-Four bullets fled at the little knot OF
men below. We could not see who was
hit but all turned and started down
the declivity, though one man dropped
before he had gone dozen yards. We
lost no time in reloading and had a
new charge ready in every piece before
seeing any signs Of their return. But
Buck, who took more time and made
more fuss about his work than all the
rest together had scarcely rammed his
charge home and fixed the percussion
cap on the nipple when three men
made q dash at the fire. Two Of them
reached 1t and began to kick vigorous
ly. | took deliberate aim at one Of
them and shot him through the head.
My gun had scarcely cracked when
Helen let drive at the remaining man.
He staggered, but kept on kicking at
the fire. | snatched Bucks gun and
finished him. dropping, him on the burn
ing brands. The third man, who had
started forward several times and
each time turned back, got out Of sight
as quickly as possible.
look a dar" cried Ginger. pointing
to the east.
turned my head and there above
the horizon was the faintest trace Of
| dawn,