ackson
scattered her children like a flock of chickens to the green to gather up
the whitened linen which had been spread to dry on that long remembered
June day of 1696.

"There, Samuel, do stop that nonsense, for the rain will soon be here!"
she laughed in spite of herself, as the round freckled face of her boy on
hands and knees appeared with a grin from beneath a sheet.

The laughter of all three children increased when the cows and sheep, in
mid-afternoon, came hurrying to the barns, as if they, too, were afraid
of a sprinkle.

Mrs. Jackson gave a troubled glance skyward at the on-coming storm and
then at the trembling cattle, which had doubtless been frightened by
something worse.

Samuel, Betsey, and Peggy had glorious romp together after supper, but
neither father, nor mother, nor even Uncle Jack, could be persuaded to
tell them a bedtime story, for something seemed to trouble them all. The
children went early to bed. Betsey whispered, as they climbed to the
feathers, "I heard father say that we'd stay here one more night. Do you
suppose the Indians are coming?"

However, not even the dreaded word, Indian nor the booming of the thunder
storm outside could keep those sleepy eyes open.

Downstairs the older members of the family and several neighbors gathered
about the wide fireplace, glad of the warmth that chilly June night. With
sober faces they discussed the rumors of terrible deeds the Indians had
committed in Dover, a few miles up the river.

"Some are lurking about us," declared Mr. Jackson, "for no storm would so
frighten the cattle. 'Tis not the first time they have come home bruised
and bleeding."

"Tomorrow night," added his brother, "the settlers here at the Plains
must go to the garrison house for safety. An attack may come at any
moment."

Little Samuel was the first to open his eyes the following morning,
thinking it a glorious sunshine that gave such a brilliant light outside.
Suddenly a snap and a crackle brought him to his feet. He found the barn
ablaze. A war-whoop from the Indians then aroused the household.

While father and Uncle Jack armed themselves with such implements as they
had at hand, mother gathered the children together to go with her to the
garrison house. About to leave the house she missed her wallet, which she
had left, and ran upstairs to get it. She came down to find the children
gone.

"Perhaps they have started ahead," she thought, and hurried out.

The child