eemed a reasonable one. Such a raid was like Indian
warfare.

"How many men are there at the post?" asked Uncle Aleck.

"Ten men including the corporal and a lieutenant of cavalry," replied
Battles, who was a pro-slavery man. "The rest are down at Lawrence to
suppress the rebellion."

"So the commanding officer at the post wants us to come down and help
defend the fort, which has been left to take care of itself while the
troops are at Lawrence keeping down the free-State men," said Mr.
Bryant, bitterly. "For my part, I don't feel like going. How is it
with you, Aleck?"

"I guess we had better take care of ourselves and the boys, Charlie,"
said Uncle Aleck, cheerily. "It's pretty mean for Uncle Sam to leave
the settlers to take care of themselves and the post at this critical
time, I know; but we can't afford to quibble about that now. Safety is
the first consideration. What does Younkins say?" he asked of
Battles.

"A randyvoo has been appointed at my house to-night," said the man,
"and Younkins said he would be there before sundown. He told me to
tell you not to wait for him; he would meet you there. He has sent his
wife and children over to Fuller's, and Fuller has agreed to send them
with Mrs. Fuller over to the Big Blue, where there is no danger.
Fuller will be back to my place by midnight. There is no time to fool
away."

Here was an unexpected crisis. The country was evidently alarmed and
up in arms. An Indian raid, even if over twenty miles away, was a
terror that they had not reckoned on. After a hurried consultation,
the Whittier settlers agreed to be at the "randyvoo," as Battles
called it, before daybreak next morning. They thought it best to take
his advice and hide what valuables they had in the cabin, make all
snug, and leave things as if they never expected to see their home
again, and take their way to the post as soon as possible.

[Illustration: THE RETREAT TO BATTLES'S.]

It was yet early morning, for Mr. Battles had wasted no time in
warning the settlers as soon as he had received notice from the fort.
They had all the day before them for their preparations. So the
settlers, leaving other plans for the time, went zealously to work
packing up and secreting in the thickets and the gully the things they
thought most valuable and they were least willing to spare. Clothing,
crockery, and table knives and forks were wrapped up in whatever came
handy and were buried in holes dug in the ploughed