Year: 1876

With intense anxiety the woman
watched the blazing missile as it flew
through the air, and her relief was very
great as she saw il carried 10y the iorce OF
the wind away to the left side OF tho
house and fall among the trees.


Again and again was the experiment
tried, but somehow without success; and
the Indians showed th>ir yeXation by
keeping upa continual shower OF bullets
rafting against The house.


The shades Of night were now falling.


1t was with feeling of deepest apprc-
hension that Marian Latuur saw the dark
ness coming on.


Under cover OF the night the savages
could approach quite near to the house
without being discovered, and her heart
fell as she thought how little probability
there was OF weak woman being able
to keep them back until morning, when
she expected her husband to return.


He was only one man against at least
twenty. He would have TO ride back to
the settlements for help, and by the time
he again returned. if he was fortunate
enough to escape the savages, what
might not have happened


Her reiec ctions were Gu, short by yell
OF savage eXultation from the Indians.


She looked out, but could see nothing
unusual. What did it mean?


Strsining every nerve, she listened with
the mos. intense anxiety. The sound
seemed to come from the roof in one
corner OF the building. A few moments
revealed the dreadful cause; the rool was
on fire.


Already the fire began to burn through,
and red, glowing sparks appeared III one
corner of the roof. The children began
to cry piteously, as il aware of the danger
in which they stood. aud Mrs Latour's
heart almost failed her.


From the edge of the woods she could
hear the dscordant no vi OF the savages;
but they took care TO keep out OF the
reflection OF the fire. so that she had 10
chance for shot. Flercer and liercer
grew the flames. The roof dry as iin
der. speedily caught everywhere spark
dropped upon il. The heat. too, was
becoming unbcarab,e. Was there no
hope for them'


Suddenly strange sound mingled
with the cracking Of the fire.


What was it? \ yell, but not from
Indian throsts.


With every sense on the alert, she
listened


Again the yell and then a rattle OF rifle
shots, Mingled with shouts OF triumph
and frantic howls OF terror and diSmay.


Running to the open window she looked
Out, and could see by the light OF the
burning roof the savages flying in terror
across the open To-, while among them
the forms OF white men, cutting and
shooting at the flying enemy.


Across toward the opposite woods they
went. but there the Indians were met by
another body of whites, and soon, sur
rounded on oil sides, after hard fight,
they all fell before the deadly knives and
pistols OF their exasperated and relentless
foe.


BY this time Mrs Latour aud her child
ren were out OF the house, and in the
arms of the loving father and husband.


Alter the excitement had subsided and
the fire had been pu. out, by the exertions
OF the neighbors. Gabriel told his wife
how he had come to return so soon and
so opportunelY.


After leaving the house the day before,
he rode couple of miles. and then find
ing he had forgotten one Of his pistols,
rode back to get it.


GA arriving near the house he found
Indian signs. Dismounting, he crawlod
carefully up aud saw them in ambush.


Knowing that he could do no good
alone, he started as fast as bis horse could
go. for Sa.ine City. mustered party and
got back jus, in time to save his loved
ones from horrible death.