Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-13


 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 clung to the bed-cord. their hair flying, as the old COW ran to keep up with us, 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 great pike-pole in his hand. Its upper end rose 20 feet above his head.
 What ye goin' t dew with thet?" my father asked him.
 Coin t run it through the fust In- jun see" said he. T we broke the lock O my gun.''
 There was a crowd at Jerusalem Four Corners when we got there. Every moment some family was arriv- ing in panic-the men, like my ia. ther, 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 s!ings or clubs or cross-guns. had only the sword my father gave me &ud a mighty longing to use 1t Arv Law rested an end or his pike-poIe and stood looking anxiously for red devils among the stumps of the far ther clearing. An old f1int-lock, on the shoulder of man beside him, had a barrel half as long as the pole. Da- yid Church was equipped with ax and gun, that stood at rest on either side of him.
 Evening came, and no sign of h. dians. While 1t was growing dusk l borrowed pail of the innkeeper and nilked the COW, and brought the pail, : heaped with froth. to my mother, who passed brimming cups of milk among the children. AS night fell, we boys, rore daring than our fathers, crept to the edge of the timber and set the big brush-heaps afire, 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 b'lieve there s no Injuns comin'," said Bill Foster. "Ef they wus they'd come."
 "CorGin' t my observation said Ary Law, looking up at the sky, Tn juns mos gen'ally comes when they git ready"
 An t ain't when yer ready t hev 'em, nuther." said Lon Butterfeld
 "Blieve they come up n peeked out O the bushes n see Arv with thet air pike-pole, n med up their minds they hedn't better run up ag'in' it." said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em-thet's whut's tn natter
 Man 'et meks light O this pole oughter hey t 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 thet air he'll squ'sh i'm"
 "Sqush inn" said Arv, with a look of disgust. "Tain't med t squ'sh with. l cal'late t pint it at 'em n jab."
 And so, as the evening wore away and sleep hushed the timid, a better feeling came over us. l sat by Rose Merriman on the steps, and we had no thought of Indians. I was looking 1 into her big hazel eyes, shining in the hrelight, and thinking how beautiful she was. And she, too, was look ins into my eyes, while We whispered together, and the sly minx 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 lacy, shimmering, cracking net of gold. Then suddenly it burst into a 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 afield, as if it had been monday. Suddenly we all jumped to our feet. A wild yell came echoing through the woods.
 There they be-" said Asher East man, as he cooked his gun. q tol | ye so."
 As matter of fact, he had told Us nothing of the kind. He was the one | man who had said nothing.
 Arv Law stood erect, his pike-pole poised in both hands. and We were all ready for action. We could hear the rattle of many hoofs on the road. As soon as the column showed in the fire light. Bill Foster up with his mus. ket and pulled the trigger. I could hear the shot scatter on stump and stone. Every man had his gun to his eye.
 Wait till they come nearer" said Asher Eastman.
 The Indians had halted. Far behind them We could hear the wild hallooing i or many voices. In moment We could see those on horseback go galloping on in the direction whence they had come. Back in the house a number of the women were praying. My mother came out. her face whiter than had ever seen it before and walked to my father and kissed him without ever saying a word Then she went back into the house.
 
 Scairt?" I inquired. turning to Rose. who now stood beside me.