Year: 1859

are," said the terrified creature, as she


choked down the draught.


"I'll smother it first" thought the


old woman, as she hastened to the bed


where the little one slept, better than


have its brains dashed out" but when


she had brought it down. she said to its


mother, "I'll give it some laudanum,


it is SO little, that drop will keep it
asleep; but I must first make all things


quiet up stairs" and returning again to


the room which served as parlor, kitchen,
and all, she proceeded to make up the
beds, straighten the chairs, lock the
trunk, draw the curtains, and give the
place the look of house that has been
deserted some days. Then she dressed
herself warmly and was just going to let
herself down and drop the trap door
the strap by which it was lifted she had
already cut off-when sudden thought
made her quiver.


One moment she stood irresolute, then
unlocking the little portable desk which
she had taken from her sons trunk, and
which contained his deeds and notes, she
took from it a small vial filled to the brim
with white powder. Then going to a
dry goods box, which, set upon end,
formed their cupboard, she seized the
whisky jug-for in those days of which
we write, that was considered one of the
necessities of frontier existence. 1t was
full. She poured out glass and then
deliberately emptied the contents of the
vial into the jug and shook it until she
was satisfied the powder and liquor were
thoroughly mixed. She placed it upon
the table with the glass beside it, and
then muttering-" It's in self-defence !;
if don't kill them, they will us, the
red varmints." she crept hurriedly into
the cellar, and letting down the trap
door and lighting candle, proceeded to
administer an opiate to the babe. who
had just awakened. 1t was soon lulled to
sleep and folded closely to her bosom,
for she was determined to suffocate it
rather than trust it in the hands of the
Indians.


A half hour of torturing suspense and
anxiety followed, and then the war whoop
burst upon their ears, and the cabin door
was violently broken open. There were
six stalwart braves" and as they rush
ed in, yelling and leaping and brandish-
ing their tomahawks, it seemed to the
women below as though hell had lost
some of its iends. They had three
captives with them, young Nick Ed
monds and his wife and three year old
boy. Two of the Indians fastened to
bind the feet of the poor creatures whom
they had that night made homeless. and
who had been spared the scalping- knife,
only that other :and deeper pains might
be inflicted upon them, while the others
rushed to the beds whereon they sup
posed new victims lay.


They were empty. of course, and mad
dened that their prey should have esca-
ped them, they struck a light-for they
had brought off Nick's match safe, and
his wife's winter stock Of candles-and
commenced the work of Instruction.
The feather beds were ripped up with
their hunting knives and their contents
scattered. The straw ticks were carried
out doors and set FIRE to. The chests and
trunks were broken open, and after select
ing such things as they thought would
please favorite squaw. they strung the
others into rags. The dishes were swept
from the shelves, and the tin pans and
basins cloven in twain with their hat
chefs. The little furniture of which the
young wife was SO proud, and which
she had brought hundreds of miles, was
ruthlessly split up, and FIRE kindled
with the splinters. The arm Of one of
the most infuriated of the red men was
raised to cleave the table, when his eye
caught sight of the jug of whisky and
the glass. In moment he had drained
the latter and poured it full again and
drank it down. The rest followed him,
and stayed not their lips from the glass
until the last drop was shaken from the
jug. Then. tightening anew the withes
with which they had bound their cap
tives, they wrapped their blankets about
themselves and lay down before the am
pie fireplace, now all of brilliant blaze
with the pine and mahogany which they
had thrust into it. They evidently
thought themselves in comfortable quar-
ters, and their looks and actions express
sed entire satisfaction.


But not long did they lie there quietly.
One after another they began to wri.he
and groan, and ere long, their agony