house, immediately set to work to block up all the lower
windows and doors, only leaving sufficient loopholes for their muskets.
Every receptacle they possessed for holding water was also filled from
the well, both to afford them the means of quenching their thirst and to
enable them to extinguish any fire which might burst forth. While they
were thus employed, Ben's voice was heard announcing the arrival of
himself and the party on foot, who were at once admitted at the back
entrance. To prevent the Indians from finding shelter in the outhouses,
they were, under Ben's superintendence, quickly pulled down, the
materials enabling them still further to fortify the house.

Daylight found them still busily occupied. The fact of their not being
as yet attacked convinced them that it was but a small party of Indians
they had surprised; probably they, however, would summon a larger body,
should they have determined to attack the house. The garrison were
anxious to ascertain if their foes were near; but the stealthy way in
which the Indians are accustomed to approach an enemy made it dangerous
to send out scouts, who would almost to a certainty have been cut off.
Oliver and Gilbert, however, took post by turns on the roof, whence they
could obtain a view round on every side, and get sight of the Indians
should they draw near.

The morning passed away in perfect quiet; the hour indicated by Oncagua
was approaching,--Gilbert only hoped that other places were as well
prepared as they were. Dinner had been partaken of, and most of the
men, who had been up all night, were lying down to obtain the rest they
needed, when Oliver, looking through a trap which opened on the roof,
exclaimed, "They are coming!"

The next instant the word was passed through the lower rooms,--the men
sprang to their feet, and each one hastened to his appointed post. They
had not long to wait, for issuing from the border of the forest appeared
a large band of Indians adorned with war-paint and feathers.

"I only wish we had one of the _Rainbow's_ guns mounted on the roof, and
we'd pretty soon make those fellows put about ship," exclaimed Ben, when
he saw them. It was almost impossible to count the Indians as they
spread out on either hand, but Gilbert calculated that there were at
least several hundreds of them. Trusting to their numbers, they came on
fearlessly, uttering their dreadful war-whoops.

"Wait till I give the order to fire," cried Gilb