Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-22
The Indians

"Scamper! The raindrops will gel
there before you" And Mrs. jackson
scattered her children like a flock o.
chickens to the green to gather up the
wh1tened linen which had been spread
to dry.
There, Samuel! Do stop that non
sense, for the rain will soon be here!'
She laughed in despair as the round
freckled face of her boy, on hands and
knees, appeared with grin from be
meath a sheet.
The laughter Of all three children
increased when the cows and sheep In
mid-aftemoon came hurrying to the
barns as if they. too. were afraid Of
sprinkle.
Mr.. Jackson gave q troubled glance
skyward at the oncoming storm and
then at the trembling cattle, which
doubtless had been frightened by
something worse.
Samuel, Betsy, and Peggy had a
glorious romp together after supper;
but neither father, mother, nor even
Uncle Jack could be persuaded to tell
them a bedtime story, for something
seemed to trouble them all. The chill
dren went early to bed. Betsy whis.
pered as they climbed onto the feath.
ers: II heard father say that we'd
stay here one more night. Do you
suppose the Indians are coming?"
However, not even the dreaded word
of Indian nor the booming of the
thunderstorm outside could keep those
sleepy eyes open
Downstairs the elder members Of
the family and several neighbors gath.
cred about the wide fireplace, glad Of
the warmth that chilly June night.
With sober faces they discussed the
rumors Of terrible deeds the Indians
had committed in Dover, a few miles
up the river.
Some are lurking about U.S." de.
clared Mr.. Jackson, "for no storm
would so brighten the cattle. IT'S not
the first time they have come home
bruised and bleeding"
Tomorrow night" added his broth.
er, "the settlers here at the plains Gas
the clearing was called) must go to
the garrison house for safety. An at.
tack may come at any moment"
Little Samuel was the first to7open
his eyes the following morning, think
ing it was glorious sunshine that gave
such brilliant light outside, until a
snap and crackle brought him to
his feet. He found the barn ablaze.
Then came war-whoop from the
Indians, that reused the household.
While father and Uncle Jack armed
themselves with such implements as
they had at hand, mother gathered the
children together to go with her to the
garrison house. Recalling her wallet,
which she had left, she ran upstairs,
but came down to find the children
gone.
Perhaps they had been started
ahead" she thought. and hurried out
alone.
When the barns were smouldering
ashes and no Indian could be seen or
heard, plump Samuel rolled out from
under the cinnamon rosebushes in the
front garden. Peggy and Betsy were
seen peering from beneath the low
branches Of lilacs, where they had
gone in their fright and bewilder.
ment.
where's mother" cried little Sam
uel.
''1s she not with your asked their
surprised father. yet relieved to see
his children alive.
She was nc, found at the garrison
house nor yet among the many in.
tured people.
"Could the Indians have taken her
of" sobbed Betsy, when Peggy cried:
"Hurrah! Here's Captain Shackford
with his soldiers. They'll help u.s."
Everybody crowded about the
sturdy captain. who had been sum-
moned from Strawberry Bank, two
miles away. He had ordered his com.
pany to proceed to the Plains; and
now, seeing the destruction and learn.
ing in which direction the Indians had
fled, he started in pursuit to the
south.
Bring back my mother!" pleaded
Samuel, hopefully.
The captain nodded doubtfully, for
he knew how treacherous the Indians
were.
1t was a desolate spot that he left
behind. Nine barns and five houses
had been burned
Little Samuel, Betsy, and Peggy had
a house left to them. But what was
that without mother? The people who
had gone to the garrison house in
groups had reached there safely, but
she had gone alone.
Several hours passed, when voices
were heard across the clearing, and
Captain Shackford and his militia ap-
peared from the woods with prisoners
and plumber.
There's mother!" shouted the chill
dren, and they dashed across the
plains.
Clinging to her. they heard how the
captain had seen a featherly blue
smoke some four miles from the
plains and found that the Indians were
cooking their breakfast behind the
protection of their captives. who were
tied to the trees. The soldiers rushed
upon them. but the Indians escaped.
However, the plumber, and, best Of all,
the prisoners were safely brought
back
Since then many bedtime story by
the hoa rfh fro hoa hoon told NJ <bo<