Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-03
--..sd cupping me, but
after that rambled little and toward
ei1nr,aa WINS slaonfntr s s}a sf

&
summoned the regiments surgeon. Be
tween them they bathed me and fed
me and got my shirt and leggings on
me. Mount linked his great arm in
mine and helped me up to the parapet,
where the Virginia militia and Cres-
APPS riflemen were firing into the for
est.
1t was almost impossible to perceive
single savage, not only because Of
the rife smoke. but also because they
had taken cover like quail In a plowed
field. Every charred tree root sheltered
an Indian; the young oats were alive
with them; they lay among the wheat
the bean poles; they crouehed behind
manure piles; they crawled In the beds
of bitches.
Are oil the settlers in the fort r.
asked Mount. who was leaning over,
the epaulement waiting patiently for a
mark.
Every man, woman and child came
In last night" he said. 81
And now house after house burst
Into black smoke and spouts Of fame.
Through the spreading haze we caught
leeting glimpses of dark figures run
ming. and our flrelocks banged out
briskly. but could neither hinder nor
stay the doom of those poor, rough
homes Fire leaped like lightning along
the pine walls, twisting in an instant
into a column of pitchy smoke tufted
with tongues of fame.
Save for the rife shots and the tim
orous whinny of horses the fort was
strangely quiet If the women and
children We're weeping in the case
mates we on the ramparts could not
hear them. And ! do not think they
uttered complaint. We hurried ST.
lently about our work; no officers shout
ed; there was small need to urge us,
and each man knew what to do
All at once the fiery shower of ar
rows among us ceased. A soldier
climbed the flag pole to look out over
the smoke, and presently he called
down to us that the savages were fall
ing back to the forest Then our can
non began to fash and thunder, and
the militia fell In for volley firing
again, While below the drawbr1uge
drppped once more, and our rif1emen
stole out into the haze.
was sitting on the para :. looking
at Boyd's inn, the Leat..er Bottle,
which was on fire, when Mount and
Cade Renard came up to me, carrying
"a sheaf of charred arrows which they
had gathered on the parade.
II just want you to look at these
began Mount, dumping the arrows into
my lap. What tribes are they7'
"Cayuga," replied, wondering.
"Cayuga, of course wait! Why, this
is Seneca war arrow! You can see
by the shaft and mock and the quilts
set inside the fbers!
Here is Shawanese hunting shaft"
said, startled, "and-and this-this is
strange arrow to meV'
held up slender, delicate arrow,
beautifully made and tipped with steel.
That" said Mount gravely, sis q
Delaware arrow"
The Lenapev' cried, astonished.
Suddenly the terrible significance OF
these blackened arrows came to me
like blow. The Lenni-Lennpe had
risen; the Senecas and Shawanese had
Joined the Cayugas. The Long House
was in revolt.
Mount" said quietly, docs Colo,
mel Cresap know this?"
The Weasel nodded.
1--WE abandon the fort tonight" he
said 1--WE can't face the Six Nations
here"
I'VE make for Pittsburg," added
Mount. at will be job to get the
women and children through. Cresap
wishes to see you, Mr.. Cardigan. You
will find him laying fuses to the mag
azine"
They piloted me to the classmates
and around the barracks to the angle
Of the fort, where we saw Cresap on
/ his hands and knees, heaping up loose
powder into long train. lie glanced
up at us quietly; his thin, grave face
was very pale.
.'Am / right about those arrowsl" he
asked Mount.
"Mr. Cardigan says there's a Seneca
war arrow among EN-, TOO, repleo
Mount.
Its true" l said. 1.-THE senecas
guard the western door of the Long
House, and they have made the Cayu.
gas cause their own"
And the eastern door?" demanded
Cresap quickly.
THE eastern door of the Long House
is held by our Mohawks and Sir viii
liam Johnson" said proudly. And
by Gods grace, they will hold It il
peace" ,
Not while Walter Butler lives, /" SAID
Cresap bitterly, rising to his feet and
turning the key Of the magazine
I Throw that key into the moat, cor
poral," he said. Mount, get some II
a