Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-22

on the point of pulling the trigger.
being dark-she had not lighted the
till0w dip--shc Indians might CON
clude. after accommodating. that 40 one
was there. and would 20 away again.
But this WAS not to he. The forms
drew nearer until she could distinguish
one from another She raised her rifle
again. aimed and fired \ form leaped
into the air. there WAS Il shrek III pain
and hurrying of footsteps back IL the
shelter of the trees. Mrs. Kennedy
quickly reloaded her rifle. ard. know.
ing the tactics of the Indians made y
the porthOles-there were four. one on
each side of TIE forte see il an mp.
proach was attempted from any other
point. She could SEA nothing,
Another contingency now presented il
self. She no sooner thought OF il than
she emptied the mattress on her bed
of its stufiiings of geese and turkey
feathers into the fireplace. Then. &c
be prepared for an emergency. ste
awakened her little ores and made
them stand near the door. ready to run
for the timber il it should be necessary
to attempt to save herself by fight.
Another circuit of the portfolios w:.s
made, but nothing WAS developed
After = few minutes SHOTS were fired
in front OF the fort. Mrs. Kennedy
rushed 10 the portfolio OF that side ana
raised her rifle. HCt she did a"i ii:c
She waited fo- crc Of taos" CAR; .o.,C-;
tn appear. so that she mi=h; lire ciiec
lively. None appeared. hut the rr>s
of the Indians was effective. and o"s
or two OF their number reached tie
fort from the rea. aI; scalct . i.3.' &c
TIE roof Hearth: he c.att2" IN tie
roof. Mrs. Kennedy understood what
it meant. AMI TIE fact thar the res
We're daring enough to atte:i:9. the feat
also convinced her that they knew her
husband was away. She aD:an@ frcw
the portho.e TO the fireplace. flint "no
steel in hand. There WAS Il fash anC
flames and pungcnt smoke frcm TIC
feathers rolled up the chimney.
Howls of DISCUS. and quick clam
boring from chimney 10 roo. told tina
the movement had been siccessful-ths
Indians Who had started down the
chimney retreated from the heat ana
stifiing smoke. Mrs. Kennedy s:rur!
Il light to the tallow dip. so that i. tbs
Indians broke into the for: she might
escape into the darkness with ner li.,lt
ones. while the assailanis We're tempo
rarily blinded by the ligL.. She h3t
Just set the light on the table in tht
centre OF the room when there came
batse.ing ri :he door % III. fort. The
Indians in front OF the for: had takeI
advantage c: tho opportunity Offered
by the ruse of the reds on the roo. tt
secure Il large timber ard charge
against the door in an attempt &c
batter IT in. ~ tie thirl blow the
lower half of tie plank in the centre
If the door gave WAY. leaving an ape:
tire large enough 10 permit mar
crawling through. Mrs. Kennedy
Sprang to one side of the Gcor ard
stood with appraised AZ. y painted
Mrs. Kennedy stood close TO the wall
ard on ono side and the children on
tie other. all keeping qu.e,. the little
ones obeyiE. every sign OF th:i:
mother. and. like young partrid@'s.
ready TO run and hide III h"r signal. the
warrior saw nothing. The painted
face was thrust further into the o?ea.
Ing. and. seeing nothing. the Indian
started boldly through TIE broken
door.
Mrs. Kennedy compressed her i,os
until blood wis forced from them. and
when the Indian had got well within
the room ard WAS about 10 draw his
tomahawk. she brought down the =;
with crushin: force on his skull. then
hastily pulled him aside while death
Guie:ed him. The Indians. thinking
that there was 10 danger. their coa:.
another of thei: number through.
But he caught sight of his predecessor
IN death agony and started back utter
ing wild yell. Mrs. Kennedy strrca
at. but only wou-Ged him. lie Kan oil
Yelling at the top o. his voice. Shots
from another cua:ie: III til.S moment
caused stampede c. The Indians - lie
timber. A moment late: there WAS Il
signal which Mrs. Kennedy ucGer
STOOD. and she gave one iii return. IL
Il few seconds her husband WAS 4, the
dco- of The fort. which opened. ard
although several shots were fired by
the Indians from the edge o. the clear
liz: none was effective. ard the master
of the fort entered unframed. Hastily
barricading the door AMI putting hi:
children 20 bed husband and wife tOoi;
station Il; portfolios on opposite sides
of the fort and watched till morning,
but the Indians did not return. Next
day the dead Indian was taken - tic
forest and buried. The wounded ones
were carried away by their comrades.
The Kennedys strengthened their for
tifica tons. bit never again was theis
fort mOieS.ed.-St. LOUIS Republic.
Honest Eu: Taci:ni.