The Washington herald., 1915-04-25

came forward. He was about twenty
one years old. and big and brawny.
Nathan" said Gen. Marion. II think
you know how to use bow and arrow"
! II reckon 1 do. SIR" grinned the young
fellow.
DO you think you could send a few
frebrands from our camp into yonder
roof? I want to warm those people up
little
Nathan looked back at their camp
and then across to the fort. "'Twould
take a mighty good bow to do it. I
reckon that painted thing you've got
in your hand wouldn't be of much ac-
| count
At this the widow laughed heartily.
| Let him try it, General Marion she
said: I'll wager he cannot even bend
it"
: Nathan took the bow and examined it
| curiosly. He was familiar with thu
bows of the Indians, but this was I'M
like any he had ever seen before. 1t
| in the middle, and the ends Of it were
turned UP. 1t was made of horn and
wood cunningly Joined together. ana was
covered with strange carved decorations,
stained in different colors. The arrows
were long and very slender. and tipped
with straight steel heads eight or nine
inches long and pointed.
1T was brought from India" said the
Widow Motto, by my husbands brother,
who was captain Of a ship, and my hug
band always valued it very highly as a
curiosity. But come" she went on.
speaking to Nathan. 'let US see what
you can do with it."
The young man frightened the string Of
the bow. tested it with his thumb, and
selecting one of the arrows, sent 1t
straight up into the air. far out of sight.
When, some seconds later. it returned
and buried itself about two-thirds of its
length into the ground almost at his
feet. he grinned and said:
General, that is a bow, sure enough.
I reckon I can punch a few. arrows into
that roof all right
Marion returned to his camp. Detach-
ments were posted opposite each en-
trance to the fort. and by noon all was
ready. There had been no rain for weeks.
and everything was in excellent condi-
ton for their plan.
"once on fire nothing con save the
house." remarked Col. Lee. Twill burn
like tinder."
Balls Of resin and birthstone were at
tached to the arrows and set on fire.
Then, one after another. three separate
shafts were sent against the glittering
roof from that wonderful bow. A few
moments later and three little spirals Of
blue smoke mounted slowly into the air.
Presently they grew thicker and darker,
and with his glass Marion could see lit
tie tongues Of flame licking up the edges
Of the shingles.
Now a man appeared upon the roof
with bucket in his hand. He had
sharp crack of the rife rang out. and
with a howl of pain he dropped the
bucket and plunged headlong through
the skylight. BY this time the roof was
well on fire. and a great column Of smoke
rose straight into the air and then drift
ed slowly OF to the eastward. curling
down and covering one end Of the para
pet.
Mcpherson hastily organized a large
to fight the fire. But Marion was
prepared for this, and he sent shot
after shot into them from his old six
FOUNDER, while such Of his men as
were armed with rifles kept steadily
at work. and in q few minutes they
drove the soldiers down.
The fire began to rage more furious
ly. The watchful besiegers. always
alert. guarded every passage. and
twenty minutes later Mcpherson
hung out a white flag. The gates
were opened. and the garrison
swarmed out to find themselves pris-
oners. just as the roof of the great
house fell in with a mighty crash.
sending q thick column of sparks and !
roaring flames high into the air.
During the siege Marion lost only
two men. The British loss is not stat
ed, but 1t must have been consider
able. The prisoners were Immediately
paroled: but before they left. Mrs.
Motto gave a splendid dinner at her
to which both the English
and American officers were invited.
As for young Nathan Savage, he was
the hero of the hour. His comrades
praised him in their rough. hearty way.
Gen. Marion assured him that he was
in a fair way for promotion. and Mrs.
Motto had SO great an admiration of
his strength and skill that she made
him a present Of the bow and remain
Ing arrows to keep as . souvenir Of
the day.
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