True to the Old Flag | Page 7

his shoulders.
Harold looked up and saw a man's head appear against the sky. Dim as
was the light, he could see that it was no European head-gear, a long
feather or two projecting from it. In an instant he leveled his rifle and
fired. There was a heavy fall and then all was silent. Harold again
peered through the bars. The second figure had disappeared, and a
black mass lay at the foot of the gate.
In an instant the men came running from the house, rifles in hand.

"What is it?" they exclaimed. "Where is Mr. Welch?"
"He went out to scout round the house, leaving me at the gate," Harold
said. "Two men, I think Indians, came up; one was getting over the gate
when I shot him. I think he is lying outside--the other has disappeared."
"We must get the master in," one of the men said. "He is probably
keeping away, not knowing what has happened. Mr. Welch," he
shouted, "it is all safe here, so far as we know; we are all on the lookout
to cover you as you come up."
Immediately a whistle was heard close to the gate. This was cautiously
opened a few inches, and was closed and barred directly Mr. Welch
entered.
Harold told him what had happened.
"I thought it was something of the sort. I heard Wolf growl and felt sure
that it was not at me. I threw myself down and crept up to him and
found him shot through the heart with an Indian arrow. I was crawling
back to the house when I heard Harold's shot. Then I waited to see if it
was followed by the war-whoop, which the redskins would have raised
at once, on finding that they were discovered, had they been about to
attack in force. Seeing that all was quiet, I conjectured that it was
probably an attempt on the part of a spy to discover if we were upon the
alert. Then I heard your call and at once came on. I do not expect any
attack to-night now, as these fellows must have been alone; but we will
all keep watch till the morning. You have done very well, Harold, and
have shown yourself a keen watchman. It is fortunate that you had the
presence of mind neither to stir nor to call out when you first heard
them; for, had you done so, you would probably have got an arrow
between your ribs, as poor Wolf has done."
When it was daylight, and the gate was opened, the body of an Indian
was seen lying without; a small mark on his forehead showed where
Harold's bullet had entered; death being instantaneous. His war-paint
and the embroidery of his leggings showed him at once to be an
Iroquois. Beside him lay his bow, with an arrow which had evidently

been fitted to the string for instant work. Harold shuddered when he
saw it and congratulated himself on having stood perfectly quiet. A
grave was dug a short distance away, the Indian was buried, and the
household proceeded about their work.
The day, as was usual in households in America, was begun with
prayer, and the supplications of Mr. Welch for the protection of God
over the household were warm and earnest. The men proceeded to feed
the animals; these were then turned out of the inclosure, one of the
party being always on watch in the little tower which they had erected
for that purpose some ten or twelve feet above the roof of the house.
From this spot a view was obtainable right over the clearing to the
forest which surrounded it on three sides. The other hands proceeded to
cut down more of the corn, so as to extend the level space around the
house.

CHAPTER II.
AN INDIAN RAID.
That day and the next passed quietly. The first night the man who was
on watch up to midnight remarked to Mr. Welch, when he relieved him,
that it seemed to him that there were noises in the air.
"What sort of noises, Jackson--calls of night-birds or animals? If so, the
Indians are probably around us."
"No," the man said; "all is still round here, but I seem to feel the noise
rather than hear it. I should say that it was firing, very many miles off."
"The night is perfectly still, and the sound of a gun would be heard a
long way."
"I cannot say that I have heard a gun; it is rather a tremble in the air
than a sound."
When the man they had relieved had gone down and all was still again,

Mr. Welch and Harold stood listening intently.
"Jackson was right," the farmer said; "there is something in the air.