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Page 80
"And a mighty tough time you've had on't Mr. Reynolds, for sartin, and
no mistake," rejoined Mrs. Younker, with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Ah!
me--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a widder now in arnest. Well, the Lord's
will be done. The good Book says, 'The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh
away, blessed be the name of the Lord;' and them good words, my children
and friends, must be our consolation."
But little more was said; for each of the party felt oppressed with a
weight of sadness, at the thought of the many mournful events a year had
brought forth; and as the hour was late, each and all presently betook
themselves to rest.
Meantime, the preparations of the garrison for the morrow had been going
forward in every part of the station; lights were moving to and fro; and
all within the cabins, and on the common, was bustle and activity. At
last the sounds gradually ceased, the lights went out one by one, and
all finally became tranquil for the night.
About an hour before day-break, the sleepers began to rouse themselves,
and all was soon again in commotion. Horses were led forth, saddled,
returned and fed, and every thing got in readiness to throw open the
gates and march forth so soon as it should become sufficiently light for
the purpose.
At last came the exciting moment of all. Some were standing in groups,
and weeping bitterly at the thought of parting, perhaps for the last
time, with their fathers, husbands and sons; some were running to and
fro with anxious messages; some were clasping each other to their
hearts, in agonizing silence, and praying in secret that the Great Ruler
of all might preserve and happily restore them again to the idols of
their affections; some had mounted their noble steeds, or were leading
them forth for the purpose--and all was in Babel-like confusion.
"Farewell, my friends," said Algernon, as he stood in the door of Mrs.
Younker's cottage, grasping one after another the proffered hands of
its weeping inmates, among whom was the wife and mother-in-law of
Isaac. "Farewell, dearest Ella; we may never meet again on earth.
Farewell--farewell!" and pressing her hand to his lips, he rushed
forth with a heaving heart, not daring to trust himself longer in her
presence.
Isaac and his father-in-law followed the example of Reynolds, moved away
with weeping eyes, and all were quickly in their saddles.
A few minutes later the roll was called, and the order given by the
commanding officer to form in double file and throw open the eastern
gate. Scarcely were the words uttered, when there arose a series of
terrific Indian yells, accompanied by a volley of firearms, and every
face became blanched with surprise and dismay, and looked from one to
the other in astonishment.
"By heavens!" cried a voice; "our fighting 'll be at home, I reckon,
judging by the specimen before us."
Dismounting from their horses, the garrison, together with many of the
women and children, now rushed to the southern pickets, where, through
loop-holes and crevices, they beheld, only a few rods distant, about
a hundred savages, running to and fro, jumping up and down, whooping,
yelling, screeching and firing at the station, accompanied with all
the wild, fantastic gestures of loosened madmen.
"Thar's not more nor a hundred o' the varmints, any how," cried Isaac;
"and I reckon as how we can jest lick them, and no mistake. Hurray for
a fight."
"Hurray for a fight!" echoed a dozen voices, as they rushed back to
remount their horses.
"Hold!" cried the deep voice of Father Albach. "Hold! lads; don't do
things rash! Them Indians wouldn't be dancing and sky-larking round that
way, ef thar warn't some object in it, you may depend on."
"And that's my opinion too," answered another gray-headed veteran. "The
fact is, they're only a decoy party, sent our thar from the main body,
jest to draw us out, so that the others can rush on and make an easy
conquest on't. I tell you, friends, thar's no mistaking it; we're
surrounded by a tremendous body o' the red heathen, and we're likely to
have warm work on't. I've lived in the woods all my life, and I know the
nater of the painted varmints as well as I know my own. Ef them war all
thar war on 'em, we'd have seen very different proceedings, I assure
you."
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