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Show INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 237 Lee saw another Indian at a few rods distance ram* mmg a load into his gun. He sent the load fromt he other barrel after this besieger, and handed die gun to his wife to be reloaded; while with his revolver in hand, he continued his watch through that danger-ous but convenient opening. The Indian who received that last shot, had seemed to think he was out of range ; for when the charge struck him, he dropped his gun and sprang straight upward with a suppressed, guttural cry that seemed to express as much surprise as pain. By this time the Indians decided that they had no use for that narrow opening in the door, for the pitch-fork was cautiously removed ; and the besieged has-tened to drive in a stout nail. During this part of the action, Emma had found an ax in the kitchen and stationed herself by the west door, saying grimly that she would do her best to chop off a leg from the first Indian who came in there. Had the occasion and the moment been less tragic and desperate, this might have been amusing ; for she was a delicate girl and small for her age; but she meant it. Her mother smiled drearily at such training for a dainty girl, but her keenest anxiety in this terrible situation was for her daughter Mary. She found and gave to Mary a small dagger in a sheath at-tached to a narrow leather belt ; and while directing her to buckle it around her waist, said solemnly : 4 My daughter, our case is desperate; and if the worst comes, if the Indians do break in on us, your father, I and most likely all the rest of us except yourself will be killed at once ; but I fear they would take you alive and put you to tortures worse than death, as |
