Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-10-02
CHAPTER XvI.-(Continued.)


preached closely to the village. Here
they halted for a moment.
"Only six of us will go in," Mr.. Hardy
said; there will be less chance of detec-
tion-Jamieson, Percy, Herries, my boys
and myself. The others take post close
to the hut we see ahead. If you find that
we are discovered, be in readiness to sup
port us. And, Farquhar, two or three of
you get matches ready and stick a blue
light into the straw roof Of the hut. We
must have light, or we lose all the advan-
tage of our firearms. Besides, as we re-
treat we shall be in darkness, while they
will be in the glare"
Thus speaking, Mr.. Hardy followed his
guide, the men he had selected treading
cautiously in his rear. Presently they
stopped before one Of the huts, and,
pointing to the door, Tawaina said, "Lit-
tie White Bird there" and then, gliding
away, he was lost in the darkness.
Mr.. Hardy cautiously pushed aside the
skin and entered, followed by his friends,
1t was perfectly dark, and they stood for
Il moment uncertain what to do. Then
they heard a low voice saying, Papa.
IS that you?' while at the same instant
they saw CLEAN of light in the other cor
ner of the tent, and heard rustling
noise, and they knew that an Indian had
cut a slit in the hide walls and had es-
capped; and as Mr.. Hardy pressed his
child to his heart a terrific war whoop
rose on the air behind the hut.
Ethel had lain down without taking off
even her shoes, so strong had been her
hope of her fathers arrival. She was
therefore no impediment to the speed of
their retreat. For a short distance they
were unOpposed. The Indians, indeed,
rushed from their huts like swarms of
bees disturbed by an intruder. Ignorant
of the nature Of the danger, and unable
to see its cause, all was for minute
wild confusion; and then, guided by the
war whoop of the Indian who had given
the alarm, all hurried toward the spot,
and as they did so several saw the little
party of whites. Loud whoops gave the
intimation Of this discovery, and rush
toward them was made.
"Now, your revovers," Mr.. Hardy said
"We are nearly out of the village"
For few minutes the contest was ter
rife. The rush of the Indians partially
broke the line, and the whirl of cleaning
hatchets, the heavy crash of the blows
with the rifles, the sharp, incessant
cracks Of the revolvers, the yells of the
Indians, the short shouts of encourage
ment from the English, and the occasion
al Irish cry of Terence, made up total
Of confusion and noise which was bewil-
dering. Scarce shot Of the whites was
thrown away, and heap of dead lay
across the pass.
The Indians in front were mown down
by the long rifles like grass before the
mower, and those behind, after one mo-
ment's hesitation, broke and fled; in an
other two minutes the fight was over, and
the Indians in full flight to their village.
The party now crowded round Ethel,
with whom not single word had vet
been exchanged since her rescue, and
warm and hearty were the congratula-
tions and welcome bestowed upon her.
The morning broke over the white men
occupied in the burial of two fallen COM
panions, and upon the Indians assembled
at a short distance beyond the village.
The men sat upon the ground in sullen
despair; the women walled and wrung
their hands.
Now that it was day, they could see
how terrible had been their loss. Upward
of sixty Of their number were missing.
The chief had fallen, as had several of
the most valiant braves of the tribe. Pres
emily Tawaina rose from the midst of the
warriors. His absence the preceding
evening had not been noticed.
MY brothers," he began, "the Great
Spirit is very angry. He has hidden his
face from his children. Yesterday he
blinded their eyes and made them fool
ish: last night he made them as water
before the white men. Why were the
ears of the chiefs closed to the words of
Tawaina? If he had set out with little
White Birt. the great white chief would
have been glad, and the hatchet would
have been buried in peace. But the chiefs
would not hear the words of Tawaina.
The Stag said Kill! and the war chiefs
shouted Kill! and where are they now?
Their wiGwams are empty, and their
women have none to bring in the deer for
food. The Great Spirit is angry"
Tawaina took his seat; but, ns he had
anticipated, no one rose to speak after
him. After profound silence of some
minutes duration, he again rose
what will my brothers do? The fly.
ing fires will burn down our village. and
there is no retreat The guns that shoot
without loading carry very far We are
as water before them. We are in the
hands of the white chief. and our bones
will feed the crows. What will my broth
ers do? Let there be peace between us.
The men who would have harmed the
Little White Bird are dcad there is 10
more cause for quarrel. Let us bury the
hatchct Take horses and cattle for your
journey, and forgive us II we have done
wrong. III the white men were on the
plains Tawaina would say, Let my young
men charge; but they hold the pass. and