Year: 1870

in a low voice, holding out his hand,
81 always set my face against your
looming here, for didn't think you
were in earnest, my boy; and now,
now, fits come to that" and he
pointed to the spears, his voice shak-
ing little the while 81 should like
to make friends first, though 1 have
gone on against you. Frank Ander-
son, beg your pardon"


The young man groaned as he
took the profered hand, and then in
the same low voice he whispered:


"But Mary, when did she go?
Which way%


"Heaven forgive me-" exclaimed
the wretched father, "and I'd forgot
ton her till she showed me my duty"
and he nodded towards his tremb-
ling wife. "She took the pale and
went to the COWS, half-three-quar-
ters of an hour ago"


"But we must 60 to her," whisper
ed the young man.


"Then you'll have to go with your
skin as full of spears as a porky-
pines back, master" " said Tom, who
had crept closer to them. "There;
at thatP' he exclaimed as a burst of
yells arose. "There's a good two
hundred of the black devils dancing
about"


"It would be madness to CO." said
Samson, sand like sacrificing three
more lives; but she may have hid
herself, and escaped"


The young man shuddered, and
then raised his rifle, for a spear came
crashing through the window, but
happily without striking any one.


"Here," said Samson, rousing up.


"Lend a hand herew and with the
help of those present he half carried
his wife and two children up a short
ladder to a roughly-formed loft, full
of wool fleeces, and formed in the
low-pitched roof.


"There, creep under them," he cried,
'and first pull up the ladder Now
hide yourselves there, you'll be safe
for the present"


"Look out" shouted Tom, as Mrs.
Harris dragged up the ladder, and
its last sounds were beyond reach,
while at the warning cry Teddy the
black and Anderson discharged spear
and rife at couple of blacks who
appeared at the inner door, having
climbed in by one Of the windows.
Then ensued q sharp struggle, 4. in
which desperate blows were given
on either side; but not before three
Of the savage assailants lay writhing
upon the door, their life blood stain
ing the white boards Of the plain
bed-chamber,


1t was dangerous task, and more
than one spear flew through the win
dow as the bodies were hoisted up
and thrown through; then the open
ing was barricaded as well as those
of the other little front windows of
the hut, and one or two stood at
each ready to meet the next assault.


The thin blue smoke of the dis
charged pieces foated slowly up
ward, and seemed to wreathe about
over the trampled bloodstains, when
a cry from Tom the convict, and al
most at the same instant the report
of his piece, summoned help to the
back half kitchen, half wash-house,
whose little window was the only
opening in the rear of the hut,


The help was needed, for about a
score of the blacks had dashed up to
the opening, and and were trying to
force their way in; but a well kept
up fire from rifle and revolver drove
them back, with several of their
number bleeding upon the ground.


"It's of no use to be merciful," " ex-
claimed Anderson.


"They must be shot down, or we
shall all be butchered. Take a
steady aim, sir, for your wife and
children's sake; and I'd keep two or
three shots left in my revolver for
the last"


Samson Harris turned and glared
at the wild countenance of the young
man by his side; as if to ask what
he meant, but the look was unnotic-
ed, for as if thirsting for blood, An
derson kept on loading and firing
whenever one of their enemies offer
ed his body as a fair mark.


At every discharge that took effect
there was a wild yelling, above which
might be heard the shrieking and
wailing of the gins some famous war
rior of the tribe slackened his mus
Ices, let fall spear, waddy, shield or
boomerang, that he should hurl no
more; but in spite of their losses,
the attack was kept up now on one
side, now on the other, spear, after
spear flying through the little wind
ows, OF sticking in the bedding with
which they were barricaded, to be
dragged out and sent back by Teddy
the black, who in his excitement had
reduced his, costume still farther,
only wanting little yellow, red and
white paint to emulate the warrior
uniform of his enemies.


But at last the evening had set in,
for the short twilight was past, and
the stars were looking down calmly
upon the scene of the afternoons
bloodshed. Though but shortly be-
fore, a dusky figure might have been
seen gliding from tree to tree, or
darting across some open spot, yelE
ing and brandishing spear or club,
now all was silent, save at times the
distant lowing of some Of Samson's
cattle or the bleeting of sheep. Now
and again, too, would come the bark
and bowling of the dogs that had
been driven away by the fierce native
outlaugh; one of those raids made
upon the settlers, whom they looked
upon as usurping their land.


Samson Harris seemed utterly pros
trated by his agony of soul, for
again and again-almost incessant-
-he kept picturing to himself the
child he accused himself of neglect
ing, struggling in the hands of the
blacks. He would have gone to
seek her now, mad as the act would
have been, in the darkness of the
night, surrounded as they were by
enemies, but for the prayers of his
wife; and their only hope seemed to
be that poor Mary had taken the
alarm and sought for refuge in the