Year: 1873

blow fell upon the window fastening,
followed by another and another.
A glance through the nearest loop
hole showed her that the savages had
made . platform Of logs upon which
four Of them were standing while
they repeated the tactics which had
failed at the door, with o heavy log.
They were beyond the reach Of the
iron bar and the blows fell with
force that made the very walls rattle,
For some minutes tho stout oak re-
sisted the rapidly repeated shooks
but finally showed signs Of yielding,
& quickly pushing the table, point
just beside the window she mounted
thereon and gripping hor axe firmly
made ready for what might be her
death struggle.


Scarcely had she completed her
arrangements when the fastenings
gave way and o flood Of light, ap.
peared in the room. Again the light
was obstructed and this time Mary
knew that human body was the
cause. She raised her axe and stood
like q statue.


A moment after the hideous head
!, of savage peered into the cabin but
failed to see the brave woman stand
ing almost at his elbow. His sho,jl-
ders followed, the gittering axe fsll
and the Indian with head almost 'sev
cred from his body hung across the
bread log. With q desperate effort
she dragged him aside and a. care
fully as possible lowered him. to the
floor.


None Of the Indians had seen her
movements and naturally concluded
their comrade had effected safe lodge
ment within the cabin. Loud yells
and demoniac laughter followed his
disappearance, but as, all within was
silent gradually subsidized


Again the window was darkened,
again the head aud shoulders Of n
hinge Indian appeared, again the axe
descended, ana another Inlian dragg-
ed in and deposited on the floor.
Fresh yells and laughter followed
but as the ca bin was still silent as
tho grave th,s Indians became some
what alarme'i ! and proceeded to act
with more caIution.


A long pause ensued and Mary be-
gan to hope i,hst they would desist
from their Of forts. Rut they were
not so easily discomftted and for the
third time the light was obscured
and a painte,l face peered cautiously
into the apar tment. Before his eyes
had become ccustomed to the gloom
within the av, 'nging axe again de
scended and the burly form tumbled
a ghastly heal outside the cabin.
A fierce yell of rage rose from the
remaining say ages, upon the discov-
cry Of the fate of their companions
and for several minutes there was no
further movem ent ON the part of the
assailants.


Mary's blood was up. She would
now have fought sioele handed against
II whole regiment. From loophole
she saw that tbs sayages had drawn
of o short distance and were engaged


10 an earnest consultation Some
we're evidently in favor of with i.
drawal and finally seemed to prevail
AS the whole party moved of. Ma
ry felt a curious indifference 10 re-
gard to their movements. aud When
she saw them halt and after q short
pause again turn and rush with loud
yeils toward the cabin she felt some
thing kin to the sense of relief, and
morely braced herself for q now
effort.


From the movements Of her foes it
soon became evident to Mary that
the next attack would be by way of
the cspocious chimney. She could
hoar their footsteps on the roof as
they moved on Its steep surface. So
largo was the throat Of the chimney
fhat she felt sure that two could de-
sceud at once, and for u moment was
at fault.


Thought was rapid with her how
ever, and 10 q twinklipg she had
dragged the heavy feather bed from
the bedstead and to the fireplace,
aud with tho axe made large open


ing In the sack peering up sho conld
see two savages preparing 10 descend
and stepping back until AZ she judg.
ed they had completed about hall the
distance she emptied the feathers up
on the glowing Goals in the hearth.


A. that instant she was aware that
another Indian was eifecting his en-
TRANCE at the window. With orc
spring she was upon him. Tho IA.
wage saw her dash toward him with
upliited axe and struggled TO get
back. But be was already too far
inside, and before he could clear him.
self from the window the weapon
went crashing down into bis worry
brain.


l Meanwhile tho feathers had done
their work. Tho pungent smoke bad
filed the lungs aud eyes Of the sava-
yes 10 the chimney, and saer . short
struggle to regain the top they sue
cumbed and rolled upon the hearth
haIfsmothersd and wholly blind.
Mary was ready for them. Twice
her reekiug axe rose 10 the cir and
with each descent of the terrible