Ned in the Block-House

citement of the occasion, the duty of hospitality. The morning meal had been furnishe

life of the early settlers that, while they were thus engaged, the sound of the rifles wa

on the first floor admitted several bullets from the guns of the dusky marksmen, but every person was careful to keep out of range. When the meal was fini

evidence of the marksmanship of their enemies, Jo Stinger informed them that three bullets had struck the interior walls

lonel, "but have you done anything to teach

g along for a position behind the cabin yonder, and when h

arksman in the company, succe

ere had the impudence to thrust forth his painted face in plain sight; and when J

tomahawk at me, and which is still st

ve shrug, "for if it had been, I would have missed him. I

that no one has been harmed, though we have been exposed to great danger. It was a most providen

the number in the wo

e best authority, says there are certainly fifty, for he saw nearly th

g from the way they sent in the shots a few minutes ago; but they have sto

the stillness being as profound as if n

een learned through his nephew of t

"I know he is one of the cutest varmints in the wilds of Kentucky, but there ar

d so, but I

ng, where that arrow of his came from, and, if I ain't mi

ificing friendship, and astonishing woodcraft which go to make up the ideal American Indian, and which, though rarely encountered in these later days, still actually existed a century or more ago, as i

o be such a friend to the white people, as Pocaho

one uttered by his father months before. The lad did not repeat the words now, but the expression of pa

western side of the block-house and looked out toward the river, fixing

im, solemn woods, the unsightly stumps on the clearing, the blue sky above and beyond-all

stiff in the sunlight-spoke of the dreadful scenes that

ed the young Shawanoe, when making his marvelous shot with h

lad to himself; "for, if they had captured Deerfoot, I should

w of Ned, "it wouldn't have been there; that varmint would have made a fig

nt several minutes longer, still watching the bushes with a weak

aze, he looked at the well which stood very nea

litary title, "I heard you tell father that you meant to dig a well

long ago, but you know that men, like boys, are apt to

t, or they can tear away some of the stockad

evident, I am

rrel of water

ce for every pur

. The most dangerous enemy they had to fear, was the ver

imbers. The hewn logs, plastered between with dried clay, could not be easily ignited under the most favorable circumstances, i

r months and years, and a dry summer had not been long ended, so that they were in reality in a very combustible stat

that the peril was one which threatened almost every such station on the frontier during the early days, and it wa

on sound asleep. Megill and Turner did the same, the others occupied seats, with the exception of Mrs. Preston, who, like a good housewife, moved hither and thither, maki

ries and taught them numerous games of which they had n

king carefully through the loopholes and exchanging theories

re, and the sun was visible most of the time, but the air was crisp and wintry, and the slight war

ed by peeps through the loopholes and an expression of views respecting the situation. Mrs. Preston passed the dinner to each, an

long enough for them to feel its irksomeness, nor had the demonstrations

ed two hours' sleep, but both were too much concer

oom and peered through one of the openings. This gave him a view of the two

abin and on the edge of the forest. At first, he could not conjecture what it meant, but as he looked steadily, he observ

ing directly behind it; but if such were the

urving over in a beautiful parabola, descend toward the roof of the block-house. A mome

dry roof, it did not do so, but fell harmlessly to the earth, where it lay smoking

rked Colonel Preston, after s

-night," added Jo Stinger, "for that'

he garrison to the loopholes, Blossom Brown being amon

much interest as did any of them, while little Mary and Sus

ing the demonstration. As it was deemed likely that the next missile would be s

ere she c

n a view of the flaming shaft, but before it could be done, it struck the roof above, held a minute, and then, as if its grip was b

e," said Ned Preston, "the

the Colonel; "it kept its p

nough to do

so sure: I

. This permitted a view of all the roof on that side. He observed a scorched spot within reach of his

own from the chair. All looked expectantly at him, b

holes, through which they scrutinized the clearing, the cabins and the woods

e to give the defenders any uneasiness. They saw the shades of night once more closing about them, while they were

o Stinger meaningly; "then you

y his quaint language, and every one beli