The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-01-03


ming Nth their heads bent
had best have all ready 10 retire TO the
house IL they carry the stockade. We
can scarce hope to hold II when they
are twenty 10 one"
"All Is ready"
their canoes from passing no we might
send our women away tonight"
| II had intended to do 80. VIII you
take charge OF the north slider You
might come across TO me with ten OF
your men now"
The firing came In one continuous
rattle now from the edge OF the wood,
and the air was full OF bullets. Tho
assallants We're all trained shots, men
who had lived by their guns and to
| whom n shaking hand or n dim eye
meant poverty and hunger On tho
other hand the defenders were also
skilled IN Indian fighting and wise In
every trick ami lure which could pro-
teot themselves or tempt their enemies
TO show. They kept We'll 10 the sides
~ ~. ioopboica. wafehts~ n.s~-s.s. .s
lie creviccs OF the wood and firing
swiftly when chance offered. A red
leg sticking straight up into the air
from behind log showed where one
bullet at least had gone home, but
there was little 10 aim nj save pun
md fash from among the leaves or the
shadowy figure Of n warrior seen for
an instant ~ he darted from one tree
trunk to the other. Seven Of the Cana
dIans had already been hit but only
three were MORALLY wounded. Tho
other four still kept manfully TO their
loopholes. The women sat IN line
upon the, ground, beneath the level OF
the holes, each with saucerful Of bul-
let's and canister Of powder, passing
up the loaded guns to the fighting men.
At first the attack had been all upon
the south face, but as fresh bodies OF
the Iroquols came up their line spread
and heightened until the whole east
face was grit with fire, which gradual
~ enycloped the north also. The fort
was rlnged In by a great loop OF smoke
save only where the broad river flowed
past them. Over near the farther bank
the canoes were lurking and one, man
ned by ten warriors, attempted TO pass
up the stream, but n good shot from
the brass gun dashed In her side aud
sank her, while a second OF grape left
only four OF the swimmers, whose high
scalp locks stood out above the water
ike the back fins OF some strange fish.
On the inland side, however, tho scign-
eur had ordered the cannon 10 be
served no more, for the broad cmbra-
sures drew the eneIny's fire, and Of tho
men who had been struck hair were
among those who worked the guns.
The old nobleman strutted about
with his white ruflIes and his clouded
cane behind the line OF parched, smoke
grfmed men. tapping bis snuffbox and
shooting out his little Jests.
What do you think Of It, Du Lhut"
he asked.
"Tbey seem 10 be drawing closer
upon the east face. AMI think that
they viii make rush there before
long" said Du Lbnt
The fire had indssd grown much
Herccr upon the sids which was de-
Tended by De Catinat. and II was plain
that the main force VI the b0quols
WAS gathered at that point From
every log and trunk and cleft and
bush came the red fash with ths gray
halo, ana the bullets sang In cODtn-
uous stream through tho loopholes.
Amos had whitfield little hole for
A. Al M, al lf.
and lay upon his face, loading and
firing IN his own quiet, methodicaf
fashion. Beside him stood Ephraim
Savage. his mouth set grinly, his eyes
flashing from under his down drawn
brows aud his whole soul absorbed In
the shifting " the Aplnlekites. Do
Catinat was bearing himself Ike an
experienced soldier, walking ~ and
down among bis men With short words
of praise or preeept those fire words.
rough aud blunt, which bring glow
10 the heart and 1nsh 10 the cheek.
seyen Of bis men were down, but as
the attack grew fiercer upon bis side
II siackened upon The others, and no
selgneur, with bis son and Du Lbpi.
brought ten men 20 REINFORCE him. DO
Ia NOue was holding out bis snnnbor
10 Do CaiInat when a shrlil scream
from behind them made them both
look round Omega, tbs Indian wife.
was wringing her hands over The body
III her son. A glance showed ulat Tho
bulle, had pierced his heart and that
be was dead.
For an instant the old n0bieman's
thin face grew a shade paier and tho
hand which held out the little gold boz
shook liks q branch III the wind.