The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-12-01
D'ri and /
By IRVING BACHELLER
Author of Eben Holden" Darrell Blessed Isles" Etc.
copyright, 1901 by LOthrOp Publishing Company

had reused the whole village. At last
a man came to the upper window.
He, too, inspected us with a candle.
Then he opened the door and gave us
n hearty welcome. We put up our
horses for a bite, and came into the
bar.
Anything new?" I inquired.
"They say the British are camped
this side of the river, north of u.s."
said he, with a big tribe of Injuns.
Some of their cavalry came within
three miles of us to-day. Everybody
scairt t DEATH"
He began to set out row of glasses.
What II we hev?" he inquired.
Guess l III tip a little blue ruin int
me-" said Dri, with a SILVER; IS
col night"
Seth and l called for the same.
AN your said the landlord, turn
ing to Thurst.
Wal" said the latter, as he stroked
his thin beard, when | TUX the pledge
| swore ct l hoped { drop dead fore |
see myself TEX another drink. | m
my glass. | don care what We eli me
S long es it s somethin powerful"
We ate crackers and cheese while the
landlord was telling of the west roads
and the probable location of the Brit
ish. He stopped suddenly, peered over
my shoulder, and blew out the candle
We could hear a horse neighing -
the yard.
Some one ct the window" he
whispered Then he ran to the door
and drew the bolt. Ain much idee
who t is, he added, pearing out of
the window. by gosh! more n
dozen folks ont here, soldiers tew,
-. =. - o. horseback. O',..4e
quick"
We followed him upstairs, in the
dark, as they began to pound on the
door. From the yard a light flashed
up. They were evidently building a
fire SO that they could have better
shooting if we came out
May set the house afre,' said the
landlord.
He quickly unwound a big hose that
ran up to a tank in the peak above
us.
Plenty o. water?' DH whispered.
"Rivers nv it, said the landlord.
Tank s connected with the reservoir.
o. the lead-Works on the hill up there.
Big wooden pipe comes in the gable
end"
Turn 'er on" said D'ri, quickly,
IAN let me hev that air hose
The landlord ran up a ladder. D'ri
stuck the hose our of the window.
The stream shot away with a loud hiss.
l stood by and saw the jet OF water
leap forth as big as a pikestaff. A
man went off his horse, SPRAYING as
if he had been hit with a club. The
jet leaped quickly from one to another,
roaring on man and beast There was
a mighty scurry Horses went head
long down the hill. some dragging their
riders. In the silence of the night,
bedlam had broken loose. The shout
ing men. the plunging horses, the
stream Of water roaring on rock and
road, woke the village. Men came
running from behind the house to see
what had happened. then rushed after
their horses. Some fell cursing as the
water hit them. The landlord put his
mouth to my ear.
MEX fer yer bosses" he Kissed.
We were below-stairs and out Of
the door in a jilfy. Two men fled be-
fore us at the stable, scrambled over
the fence. and went tumbling down
hill. We bridled our horses with all
speed, leaped upon them, and went
rushing down the steep road, our
swords in hand like an avalanche.
They tried to stop us at the foot Of the
hill, but fell away as we came near.