Year: 1870

Watching She long night through,


with straining eyes constantly direc-


ted at every spot that seemed never


so little darker than the night itself.


Bush, tree, farming implements, all


in their turn were magnified into en-


emies, performing the same duty as


the inmates of the hut, and waiting


to spy out their weakness and the


best place for the morrow's assault.


But as the night wore on, and the


watchful stars still shed their peace


full light, a change came over the


wakeful ones. and objects that had


before been looked upon as enemies,


were taken for the figure of her


whose absence had created such a
void in more than one heart. But
though Anderson started hopefully


again and again, and reused the
sleeping black by his side, there was


no rustling, gliding step, no eager,
light form Of the fair young girl,


who, with beating heart, had treaded


her way amid her sleeping enemies,


and now bounded toward the hut


for shelter.


Anderson groaned, and could have
torn his hair, as disappointed, fever


ish and restless he once more walk
ed round the hut, listening attentive
ly for some sound where all was still
in the vast region around, even to
solemnity. But in vain; and could
he have done so, he might have
sought in sleep that rest and refresh,
ing his jaded body needed.


Morning at last; first, the pale,
pearly gray; then the far up faint
pink tinge; then the blushing, glow
ing clouds; then the gorgeous golden
arrows darting TO the zenith; and
lastly, as if with a bour d, came the
glorious sun himself, to beam upon
the earth with smiles, as though all
were peace, and sorrow a thing un-
known. But there was neither rest
nor peace, for with a series of fran
tic yells the blacks again showed
themselves, crying, leaping, dancing,
shouting, partly to alarm their enc
mics, partly to work themselves up
to the fighting pitch. Their faces
we're streaked with u kind of red
ochre and pipe clay, while upon the
little bark shields they carried, gro
tesquely hideous human faces were
to intimidate those whom
they attacked. Nude, save for the
opossum skin strip knotted loosely
round their loins, they once more
came boldly up to their attack upon
the hut, hurting spear and boone
rang = those singular weapons,
which, failing to strike the object
aimed at, returned to the thrower's
hand.


There was nothing for it, so far as
the inmates were concerned, but to
fire till the last bullet and grain Of
powder should be expended, and
then trust to such weapons as they
could muster for close quarters, Civ
ing up, being question never once
mooted; and now, as shot after shot
was fired, it was pitiful to see the eff
feet in the bright red spot or long
cash in the flesh, were. bullet had
struck obliquely. But when fight
ing in defense Of life, men have but
little conjunction for those who
would rob them of the gift, and it,
was with a grim feeling of satisfac-
ton that savage after savage was
seen to fall, till a tall, daring fellow,
who had dashed up to the hut,
his hand to his chest, leaped
in the air, and fell motionless, when
Anderson threw down his rifle, say
ing, THAT'S the last charge"


A gloomy silence ensued. Men,
gazed from one to the other; then
fixed Ion g and anxious looks upon
those who had been their leaders in
the fight, as if expecting them to hit
upon some plan of escape from the
death that seemed imminent. Now
they swept the approaches to the
hut, in hopes that some strong par
ty of settlers might be ON the way to
them, either bound for a new station,
or, knowing them to be attacked.
But in a place where fresh face
was not seen once in three months,
they knew well that such succor was
next to impossible.


Mrs. Harris, patient and calmer
that any one present, still lay with
her little ones hidden in the wool
loft; but as from time to time, when
she came to the edge, her eye met
that of Anderson, there was a mutu-
al reading of the agony each suffer
ed, hidden though it was beneath
the semblance of stoicism.


The stiffness that had followed
upon the excitement of the fight,
seemed at length to have grown un-
bearable; men felt that treachery
was at work somewhere, and momen-
tarily expected an attack from some
part. They grew dis
trustful, and more than once Ander-
son caught himself going from win
dow to window to see that a proper
watch was kept where he anticipated
danger.


At length, half maddened by the
mental pain he suffered, Anderson