been so
friendly; and when they stated what had passed, I agreed with them
that they would not fail to resent the insult as soon as they could. I
had therefore always been on the look-out, but had never seen any
Indians before. My mistress, to whom I had, in our days of sweet
converse, spoken about them, always laughed at the idea of their
attacking her, and said that they might come if they liked. She had
made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes stuffed up with
moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which you could fire down
upon them till they were within four yards of the cabin, and other
loop-holes, from which you might shoot them when close to; the window
and door were impregnable, and provided that we were once in the
cabin, there was no doubt but that a serious, if not effectual,
resistance might be made. That the Indians were reconnoitring the
cabin was evident, and that they did not do so for nothing was equally
certain. After a while, during which I made out six of them, they fell
back in the wood, and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to
me, and it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat,
as they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close
to us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into the
cabin, and said,

"You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to return good
for evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six Indians in the wood,
to the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and I have no doubt but that
you will be attacked this night, so I give you notice."

"And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be set
free, is it not?"

"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have often
asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not done it, I
shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow of a tomahawk
will release me, if you will not."

"Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks," replied she, "and I
will protect you from them, for no one shall release you but myself."

"As you please," replied I; "I have done my duty in telling you what I
have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for myself I care
nothing."

So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of the door.
I remained out of doors the whole of the day, and therefore did not
know whether my mistress took any precautions or not, but I told the
two convicts what I had seen, and advise