White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-09-28
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

CHAPTER VIII-Continued
-22-
popped out from the door and pick
ing up q hide slid 1t into place, re-
manning until l had three skins In
place. l would have persisted longer
had she not run o1t to upbraid me.
scolding like a vixen. Then began the
phase of warfare ! had been dreading,
the sending of fire-arrows. None hit
the roof; and while they were prepar.
ing more fire l rushed forth and fin.
ished one side of the root.
The girl scolded me as if l had been
q Maynard child. Her gravity and
seriousness became her prettily. The
little lecture was interrupted by an
other flight OF burning arrows. This
time they had the range and we heard
two strike on the roof. Before | knew
what she was doing she had stepped
out to observe how her scheme was
working. l followed and picked her
up and carried her inside.
anyway, mister, there amt any ar
rers on the roof" she told me as l
stood her on her feet. "Points
couldn't git any hold on them skins.
Just slithered Off"
Between volleys was the golden
time for work. l begged her to keep
under cover and went to finish patch
ing the south side. This time the foe
was awaiting my appearance and de-
livered a crashing volley the moment
! cleared the door. Some of the lead
whistled unwholesomely close. A voice
shouted loudly and ten Indians, select
ed for their flcetness of foot, came
racing across the opening. 1t was
grimly significant that they we're
armed with axes only. They were de-
termined to bring the fight to close
quarters. l entered the cabin as the
girl began firing from the rear loop
hole.
Here they come from all dlrec-
tionsl They mean 1t this time!" she
cried.
The attack was persisted In until
one brave was hacking the door with
his az 1t is q peculiar fact that with
them at such close quarters none of
their number was mortally wounded.
Doubtless we were nervous and q bit
confused by the attack being pressed
on three sides while some Of then
actually climbed on to the root ant
dislodged some of the skins. ! have
no clear recollection of details.
know we darted from side to side ant
discharged the two rifles and the mus
kets. The room was thick with smoke
and l recall my fear lest those on the
roof should make an opening ant
jump down upon US. .
It was not until they began to fal
back that | discovered the girl hat
been more calm than |, for she had re
fused to discharge her pistol.
peered from q lOOphOle and saw then
running for the woods and not
weapon in the cabin was loaded. On
OF their number had been hit in tn
foot and was limping along with tw'
men helping him. Probably he ha'
been hit while climbing onto the root
his foot coming in range with one o
the loopholes as q musket was dis
charged.
l loaded rapidly to get one OF tn
three men making off together. bu
the moment l opened the door
warning was shouted from the leade
in the woods and the wounded ma
was dropped in a little hollow. Hi
-ssR.+o,%, ,ooo,1 NF tn JfFnrnr% n
rections. The hollow containing tn
wounded man was too slight effe,
tually to protect him, and opening tn
door sufficiently to accommodate m
%riAe-barrel | would have stirred hir
up had not the girl thrust her han
over the flint and at the same tim
pulled me backward. ! opened 10
mouth to rebuke her, but she clappe
a hand over my mouth and pOinte
toward the room. Then pulling m
ear down to her lips she whispered
"They didn't all quit the roo
mister. heard q little noise q
there"
nodded and gently closed the doc
and barred 1t and cooked my ca
She nudged me as the man on tn
roof made a faint scraping SCUM,
This was q danger | had never cOun
ed upon. To get at the fellow nece
STATED my leaving the cabin. W
began talking to allay any suspicion
on his part, and the girl said:
"He's moving along to git direct
.a. %ho door WI rp,,ct fnnI htna
Bidding her to move about at tt
rear OF the cabin and to keep @
talking, | stepped to the door an,
In the notches cut In the logs, so tbs
one might climb to q crevice undo
the caves and scrutinize the openir
before opening the door. gently place
my feet and pulled myself up until n
ewes we're at the crevice. My head WI
close to the roof and as the ri
chartered along ] heard the teIIta
sound of the savage working his WE
down to the caves and directly ov,
the door.
AS | was about to descend, ! VS.
further rewarded, for q mOccasine
foot dropped down across my mario
range of vision The Indian was 81
ting with one foot hanging down fro
the caves and, waiting for me TO Ieay
the cabin. when he would drop dow
upOn me. The roof was formed
s%apling-size piles covered with lars
sections of thick bark. which In tur
was held In place by poles runnin
l%engthwise at regular intervals.
drew my knife and gently inserte
II between two of the poles. then d,