The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-10-15
! ABIGAIL'S VISITORS.
:, DY HATTIE BRIGGS. m

There Is nothing 1 disllke any
more, my daughter, than to go away
from the place to-day and leave you
and the children alone" said Farmer
Slower as he disposed of his powder
flask and took down his rife from the
side of the kitchen wall.
oh! never mind us, Daddy" said
Abigail, cheerfully. "Of course it will
be lonesome with you and mother both
gone, but we'll be safe enough. Don't
worry one bit about us"
II am not so sure about 1t being
safe" replied her father. "The In
dams are none too friendly nowadays,
and they are getting more restless
each week. Even old Nakomis, who
has always been ON good terms with
the settlers, avoided me a day or two
ago when | went across the clearing,
and I'm afraid it all means trouble to
the whites"
But. father" went on Abigail, "Mr.
Grey and all the other neighbors have
been 80 kind when you needed help
that you cant stay away to-day when
they are TO finish putting up the house
with this days work. You know I'm
on pretty good terms with our red
nelghbors. Why" she added, laugh
ingly. 81 can talk little Indian"
Jonathan Slower, in company with
a small party of fasteners, their
wives and children, had come into the
wilderness of Michigan seven months
before this. in the hope of founding
homes in what was the furthest point
OF the known west After months of
hardship and toll. the last house was
10 be finished on this day, and on the
morrow corn was to be planted in the
small patches which these brave men
had been able to clear
Now, children" said the elder sis |
ter, after watching the father well out
of sight, IF you see an Indian coming |
to-day | want you both to hide as fast
as your feet will take you If see
them first" she went on, with her /
arms about the small brother, an
rap on the fireplace three times, and |
then you are to get out of sight as /
soon as possible. Don't go out OF |
doors once, for we must stay close to-
gether all day" And with few more
instructions. she was soon about her
work, trying to forget the dangers of
hostile Indians.
The day wore on. and when the sun
Indicated that the time was drawing
on for the father to return, Abigail
got out the kettles, hung them on the
crane and put on the water to heat
for the mush. The appearance of that
article on the table usually called
forth some laughing remark from the
eastern-bred girl. who was making a
brave effort to be happy in a wilder
ness. Just as the water commenced
TO bubble. three sharp blows were
struck upon the hearth, and at the
same instant the frightened little
forms dropped into the hole under the
floor, which was reserved for times of
such peril, and the loose plank was
quietly put into place.
Tho next moment a tall Indian
whose quick eye saw only a young girl
quietly dropping handfuls of yellow
meal into the boiling water, appeared
at the door. A nod was exchanged be-
tween the girl and the chieftain. whose
was followed by another and
another, until six Indians stood in the
room, each with painted face and
decked in the trappings of war. The
silence was unbroken for several min
utes, save FOR the steady movements
nj the iron spoon. which was Crashed
in Aoigail's quivering fingers. At
length Nakomis, who had hitherto he
himself friendly toward the whites nd
a step and said in a heavy
cultural tone. white man homep
Nakomis would have speech with
him."
Nakoniis spoke little English and
had taught Abigail the few Indian
words she knew.
My father" replied the Young Girl
ookins the brave straight in tho FACE
lis not far off. He will be here in q
moment What do YOU want with
lim?" "''''
No tell little white face" returned
he man, lcering at her. she 'fraid
She big coward. White man coward
White man co. and he added WICK
IDLY, Il Kill him. lnjun get all white
mans scalp" and going toward The
srl with his cruel eyes upon her face
le laid one hand ON his tomanawj, ana
the other toward her.
With a Wild cry. born of the des-
'eration of the moment. Abigail Sill
'ver raised the spoon filled with boi-
ng niush, and as the Indian nlmoe,
Iad her in his grasp, she dashed n
ull into his face. AS he turned win
howl OF rage and pain. she grabbed
n iron dipper from its nail at the side
I the hearth. filled it with the nor.
idge and flung il at the red mans
eek and head as he fed through tho
DOR The other Indians attemnted ~ /
top the now Infatuated girl who knew
he was fighting for her life. but ,s
ach turned toward her he reoef,ed I
no scalding mush full in his ewes ana r
few seconds the last one of tha /
* lett the door of the cabin smart
~ with pain and rage, the contents
the Kettle being about evenly Die :
loutod over the bodies of tho baIf- :
Oxen Chippewas. Later on no one
as known to have died from the - .