Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-06-02

on the wall, she put # on and hastily
left the house.
Down at the fort Helm and Beverley
were making ready % resist Ham.ltoas
attack. which, they hGew, woc.a not be
long deferred. The ty,o ieariiy charged
cannon were planted so as 10 ceyer the
space In front OF the gate, and some
loaleS muskets were ranged near by
ready for use.
Wen give them one good blast"
growled the captain, before tley over
power us!'
Beverley made no Response in words,
but he was preparing BIZ CT finder on
the end of stick with w&ic,i - fire tie
cannon. Not far away l.!sic heap OF
logs was burning in the forts area.
The British officer, alrelG. =: :aatiored
as at the head OF the line aa:aacinS di-
agonally from the rivers bank. halted
his men at distance of 800 yards from
the fort and seemed 10 be taking a de-
liberately careful survey OF what was
before him.
"Let em come little nearer. lieuten-
ant" said Helm, his jaw setting itself
like lions. "When we shoot we want
to hit"
He stopped and squinted along his
gun.
"When they get to that weedy spot
out yonder," he added 'just opposite
the little rise in the river bank, Wen
turn loose on EN-"
Beverley had arranged his primitive
match to SUIT his fancy and for proba-
bly, the twentieth time looked critically
to the powder In the beveled touchhole
of his old cannon. He and Helm were
facing the enemy, with their backs to
the main area of the stockade, when
well known voice attracted their at
tentIon TO the rear.
"Any room for feller o. my size In
this here crowded placer It demanded
in n cracked but cheerful tenor. I'm
kind o. outen breath a-runnin' to git
here"
They turned about. IT was Oncle
JaZon, with his long rifle on his shoul-
der and wearing very important air
He spoke In English, using the back
woods lingo with the ease of long prac-
tice.
"As rs a-comn' In f'om a-huntin' |
tuck notice at somepin' was up. see
lot o. boats on the river an some fel-
lers wi guns a-scootln' around, so jcs'
slipped by 'em all an come in the back
way. Thcy's plenty OF 'cm. | tell you
what ] can't shoot much, but | tuck
one chance at buck Indian out yam
~ toe' honnAnp1 IN hff I'm In flp
lef' eye. He was one OF the gang 'nt
scalpcd me down yander in Kaintuck."
The greasy old sinner looked as II he
had not been washed since he was
born. He glanced about with furtive,
shIfty eyes and grlmaced and winked
after the manner sof an animal just
waking from lazy nap.
"Where's the rest of the fghtersf"
he demanded quizzlcally, lolllng out his
tongue and pceping past Helm so as TO
get n glimpse Of the English line.
"whcrc's yer garrison? Have they nll
| gone to breakfas'p
The last question set Helm or ours
| ing and swearing In the most mclo-
| dramatic rage.
Oncle JaZon turned to Beverley and
| said In rapid French, "Surcly the mans
not going to fight those fellows yon-
| derT
Beverley nodded rather gloomlly.
"Well." added the old man. lingering
| his rifles stock and taking another
| glance through the gate. 81 can't shoot
wo'th cent, bein' sort o nervous like,
but III stan by ye awhile Jes' for luck.
| / might accidentally hit one o EN-"
When n man Is truly brave himself
there IL nothing that touches him like
| an exhibition OF absolutely unsellish
| gamcncss In another. A rush of ndini'
| ration for Oncle Jazon made Beverley
feel like hugging him.
Meantime the young British officer
showed dag of truce and. with lilc
OF men, separated himself from the
| line, now stationary. md approached
the stockadc At II hundred yards ho
| halted the file and came on alone. wav-
| Ing the white clout. He boldly nd
| vanced TO within easy speaking dis
I lance and shouted:
| IL demand the surrender of this
| fortr'
| "Well you'll not get II, young manw
| roaro1 Helm, his profanity well mixed
| In with the words. Not while there's
| man of us leftw
"Ycd better use sof' soap on I'M
! cap'n," said Onclc Jazon In English
"Cussin' won't do no good" While he
spoke he rubbed the doughty captains
| arm and then pattcd It gently.
| Helm. who was not half as excited
as he pretended to be, knew that Onclc
| Jnzon's remark was the very essence
| OF wisdom. but hc wng not yet ready
for the diplomatic language which the
old trooper called soft soap."
"Arc you the British commander
he demanded.
NO" said the officer. "but I speak
for him"
"Not TO me. sir. Tell your command.
or that / VIII hear what he has TO say
from his own mouth. No undcrstrnppcr
| will be recognized by me-"
That ended the conference. The
young officer evidently indignant
strobe back to his line. ana an hour
later Hamilton himself demanded tho
unconditional surrender of the fort and
garrison.
Flight for it"' Helm stormed forth.
I'VE are soldlcrsw
! Hamilton held m confnh with kia %