Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16

CWu. nat uOIl", lie gave NE lne Ha
ing-rope to tie about her horns. 7!
hoofs Of the flying horse were hardi
out of hearing when we were all in the
road. My mother carried the baby ana
my father his sword aud rife and ono
Of the little ones. took the three
older children and set them On the
feather bed that was bound TO the
back of the cow. They chung to the
bed-cord, their hair flying, as the old
cow ran to keep up with tbs, for at first
we were all running. In moment we
could hear the voices OF people coming
behind One of the women was weep
ing loudly as she ran. AT the first
cross-road we saw Arv Law and his
family coming, in as great hurry as
we. Arv had a great pike-pole in his
hand. It's upper end rose 20 feet above
his head
what We goin' t. dew with thet?"
my father asked him.
Coin T. run it through the fust In
jun see,' said he. Il We broke the
lock O my gun"
There was crowd at Jerusalem
Every moment some family was arriv-
ing in panic-the men. like my ia
Their. with guns and babies and baskets.
The women, with the young, took
refuge at once in the tavern, while the
men surrounded it, Inside the line
were youths, some oddly armed with
sings or clubs or crOss-guns. had
only the sword my father gave me
and mighty longing 10 use it. Arv
Law rested an end of his pike-pole
and stood looking anxiOusly for red
devils among the stumps of the far
ther clearing. An old tiint-lock, on the
shoulder of man beside him, had a
barrel half as long as the pole. Da-
vid Church was equipped with ak and
gun, that stood at rest on either side
OF him.
Evening came, and no sign OF In
dians. While it was growing dusk
borrowed a pail of the innkeeper and
MIXED the cow, and brought the pail,
heaped with froth, to my mother, who
passed Drumming cups Of milk among
the children. AS night fell, we boys,
moro daring than our fathers, crept 10
the edge of the timber and set the
big brush-heaps atire, and scurried
back with the fear of redmen at our
heels. The men were now sitting in
easy attitudes and had begun to talk.
Don't Dlieve there S no Iniuns
comm" said Bill Foster. EFF they
wus they'd come"
"Cordin' L my observation" said
Arv Law, looking up at the sky, In
juns mos gen ally comes when they git
ready
An t amt when yer ready t. hev
'em. nuther," said Lon Bltterfeld
"B'lieve they come up n peeked out
O the bushes n see Arv with tibet
air pike-pole. n med up their minds
they hedn't better run up agin it,
said Bill Foster. "Scart 'em-thet's
whuts tn matter"
Man ct meks light O. this pole
ouehtcr hev L carry it, said Arv, as
he sat impassively resting it upon his
knee.
"Cne thin S sure" said Foster; "ef
Arv sh'u'd cuff an Injun with tibet air
he'll sQush i'm.
"Sqush I'M said Arv. with look
of disgust faint med t sqush with.
\ cal late t pint it at EN- n jab.'
And SO, as the evening wore away
and sleep hushed the timid. a better
feeling came over us. sat by Rose
Merriman on the steps, and we had
no thought of Indians. was looking
into her big hazel eyes, shining in the
freight, and thinking how beautiful
she was. And she. too, was look
ing into my eyes. while We whispered
together. and the sly mink read my
thoughts, know, by the look OF her.
Great flames were now leaping high
as the timber-tops at the edge Of the
clearing. A dead spruce caught fire
as we were looking. The flames
threw over it a lacy, shimmering
cracking net OF gold. Then suddenly
it burst into red, leaping tower. A
few moments, and the cavern OF the
woods. along the timber side, was
chOked with fire. The little hamlet
had become spring of light in the
darkness. We could see the stumps
and houses far aiield. as if it had been
MONDAY. Suddenly we all jumped to
our feet. a wild yell came echoins
through the woods.
There they be-" said Asher East
man, as he cooked his gun. Il toll
we So
AS a matter Of fact, he had told us
nothing of the kind. He was the one
man who had said nothing.
AIRY Law stood erect. his pike pole
poised in both hands. and we were al
ready for action. We could hear tho
rattle of many hoofs on the road. A.
soon as the column showed in the fire
light, Bill Foster up with his mus
ket and pulled the trigger could heal
the shot scatter on stump and stone
Every man had his gun to his eye
wait till they come nearer" sale
Asher Eastman.
The Indians had halted. Far behint
them We could hear the wild hallooins
Of many voices, In a moment we cOul(
see those on horseback go gallopiI.
off in the direction whence they hat
come. Back in the house a numbe
of the women were praying. NJ.
mother came out, her face whittier thar
I had ever seen 1t before and walked
TO my father and kissed him withou
ever saying word. Then she Wen
back into the house.