Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-12-14

aI UeFlca tnefe was warfare with the
indians. and during the war of the
Revolution there was also war with
The British. But by that time the In
Iian fighting had retreated westward.
In III HarrOdsburg, Ky. was sur
rounded by red men. and the people,
not daring TO go out to hunt for game,
were often in great straits for food
The settlement was protected by one of
hose stOckade forts used at that time
they We're hostile the inhabitants of
the place were obliged to keep within
its incloSure
During this Indian hostility and con-
sequent lack of food youth of sixteen
made himself invaluable by leaving
The fort before dawn. hunting ali day
and returning after nightfall with the
game he had shot James Ray was
the name of this brave boy. and he
afterward became a general officer in
the United States army
One day Ray and Il companion%were
outside the fort shooting at a mark
Suddenly Ray heard the report Of d
rife and his friend fell dead 1t did
not require Il process of reasoning for
Ray TO know that the shot had come
from an Indian. Looking about him
he saw the redskip who had killed his
friend and raising his rifle was about
to shoot him when there was a whoop
from another quarter. Then Ray took
10 his heels and ran like a deer toward
The fort a few hundred yards distant
Ray was a very quick runner. The
Indians could not catch him. but they
followed him with brisk fire He
reached the fort without having been
hit. but found the gates closed. Those
within had heard the firing. had shut
themselves in and were too terrified TO
open the gates. Ray called upon them
to let him III. but fenring that if they
lid the Kayn%eS would follow him and
massacre the garrison they refused to
10 50.
Ray threw himself fat on the
ground, stump covering him from
the fire of the enemy. That is, the
indians couldn't bit him. though their
bullets sang in such proximity TO bis
ears as to make him think that the
next would cut off one of them, or per
hapS tear a strip out Of his side or
go through his foot. He WAS but half
dozen Steps from the fort. within
which he would be safe if he could
only get there
But this was impossible so long as
the Indians were threatening him.
Near enough TO see those in the fort
looking through the loop holes be
,alked with them about ways to eXtri-
cate him from his position. While the
outlets were singing on either side Of
him he was cOnvprsing With bis moth
ar. There seemed no way to relieve
Glm except TO open the gates. and by
doing this many lives might be sacri
feed in an Intellectual attempt to save
1ne,
TaeFs ff' 7'ts one in tie fort who suf-
ttfed IT'S much. doubtless far more,
han Ray himself That was his moth
ar, She looked through a loophole,
where she could see him lying in his
perilOns position, and she could see
each squirt of smoke as 1t left an ln2
dian rifle, knowing that 1t marked The
| sending of a bullet to Kill her boy.
And Ray could not only Hear the bull
ct sing by him and feel the dust sprin-
king over him. but saw his danger re-
dected in his mothers face.
Hour after hour passed without any
change in the situation, When it
seemed impossible for him to lie any
longer in one position and he attempt
I'd TO change it. the consequent expo
! sure of some portion of his body would
draw more fire, admOniShing him to
: endure the constrained attitude rather
! than risk a wound by trying to relieve
it. The ground on each side of him
, was torn up in burrows by the bullets
that had been shot through it. and he
was covered by dust they had thrown
; upon him.
Night was coming on and the In
dams were drawing nearer When il
became dark there could be nothing tC
prevent the SavageS from coming neal
enough to take him or to shoot him
from position where the stump wouiC
not protect him For four hours he haC
laid in view of those in the fort. his
mother trying to encourage him, yet
herself needing encouragement. when
sudden thought occurred TO him.
For heavens sake" he cried. dis
a hole under the cabin wall and take
me ill.,"
All wondered why they hadnn
thought of the plan before. Pick ant
spade were brought and a hole was
Junk in the ground Then when it wa.
If depth sufficient to excavate under
The wall. a channel was run out to the
young hunter and he was drawn with
In the fort