Year: 1877

uedVy one, Sn6 Salu utGlo dppIe
hensive'y, for to tell the truth, sh'
was little cowardly in this respect


To this her husband made no re
ply, but playfully pushing her aside
from the doorway, he entered the
cabin, and at once took down his
rifle from the hooks where it VIZ
hanging.


"What have you seen to shoot,
Reuben?" she said. "Don't go out
again tonight, for supper is waiting
now"


81 am not going" he answered
quietly. 81 am only MAKING snre
that my rifle is in good order-for
may have occasion to use it
before morning"


The young wife turned pale.


"You don't mean to say that the
savages are here again?" she asked.


"You may as well know the truth
at once, Ruth" said her husband
looking her full in the face. "There
are redskins hanging about here,
and | am afraid they mean mischief.
I've seen no less than three at a
time within an hour, skulking along
the edge of the wood. Their mo-
tlons tell me that we had better be
ON our guard to-night-were they
friendly they would have come open
ly to me or to the cabin"


sob, Reuben, what shall we dor"
and her eyes sought the bed, where
a rosy checked boy of two summers
was lying fast asleep.


"We must do the best we can.
The cabin is stout and strong, and
l doubt about their beng able to
break in should they try it. But
you must have lot of courage,
Ruth. May be it won't be needed,
and hope it won't. Now let US
make sure that the cabin is all tight,
and then we will have that supper
which you say is waiting"
He spoke cheerfully but could
not dispel the fears that filled her
heart, and made her face as pale as
death.


The heavy oaken shutters of the
two small windows were put in
place and made secure there, and
then the door was closed and barred,
and large stick of timber that was
kept for that purpose was plac-
ed against it. When the prepara-
tions had been completed Reuben
announced that he was ready for his
supper. This was soon on the table
and it must be confessed that the
danger which lowered over them did
not in the least diminish his appe-
tite. But Ruth could haldly swal
low a mouthful and she wondered
how it was that her husband could.


She was thinking only of the dan
ger that menanced them, and listen
ing for the slightest sound that came
from without.


The darkness increased and the
sound of distant thunder broke upon
their ears. Through chink in the
shutter they saw the cloud in the
south was fast rising and spread
ing itself over the heavens, hasten
ing on the fast coming darkness.


swell get shower" said Reu-
ben."


81 hope So" said his wife. eff
there is it may keep the savages un-
der cover of the forest tonight"


'Hark!' said Reuben; "what was
that?"


Both were silent, and holding
their breath to listen. In moment
the sound was repeated. 1t was
footstep without. Ruth trembled
with apprehension. Then another
and another was heard.


"They have come," cried Ruth in
low tone.


eyes," said Reuben. CLARK! let
US see what they mean to do"


A minute later, and the door was
shaken violently. Then a savage
without exclaimed, in broken En-
glish:


"White man open door, Injins
want TO come in"


To this appeal Reuben made no
answer. He had no idea of grant
ing their request, and words he
knew would do no good. Again
the demand was made. But, as be-
fore, no answer was returned. Then
there came a few moments of ST.
lence on their part. The mutter-
ings of the thunder were nearer and
deeper. The tempest was fast com
ing. Suddenly there came so fear
full blow upon, the door that it
made the entire cabin tremble,
while Ruth gave utteranee TO shril
cry of alarm.


Courage" said her husband;
they are trying to batter the door
down, but l hardly think they can do
it. They cannot so long as the prop
holds as well as it does now"


''It is not for myself | fear," she
said. "It is for our child, Reuben. "


"We will do our best to save
him, and our own lives" he answer
ed. ''Even though the door give
way, with my rifle 1 can do much
to save u.s."


Once more a terrible blow was
dealt upon the door, and at the
same moment a vivid flash of
lightning, followed by a peal of
thunder that seemed to shake the
solid earth. So tremendous was the
blow the savages dealt that the
prop against the door gave way,
and fell from its place, and the
door itself trembled as though 1t
was coming down. The heart OF
Reuben sank within his breast. An
other such a blew must place them
at the mercy of the savages. Only
his rifle would stand between them
and death. But at this moment
Providence interposed its hand. As
though the peal of thunder had been
signal for the tempest to COM
mence, the rain came down in tor
rents. Not knowing the execution
their last blow had done, the sava-
ges hesltated as the storm broke up
on them.


A little way from the cabin stood
a large oak that the settlers had spar
"A e. ;to hoouty and preatful shade.