o fly down in showers from the roof; but the door
was of double oak with iron braces, and not easily to be cut through;
and the bars which held it were of great size and strength.

It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian, but at
last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking the body away my
mistress shot another. After this the blows of the axes ceased, and
they evidently had retreated. I then went into the inner room and
extinguished the lamp, that they might not be able to see us--for the
lamp gave a faint light. We returned to the table, and loaded the
muskets in the dark.

As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, "Will they come
again?"

"Yes;" replied I, "I think they will; but if you wish to talk, we had
better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe from any shot."

We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it just held
us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing me,
saying--"Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice
them for you."

"We have but one," replied I, "and that one I will devote for your
defence; I can do no more."

"Who did you fire at?" said she.

"The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders. He fell;
and I think that he fell dead."

"Then depend upon it they will retreat," said she.

"I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can; and we must
expect a hard fight for it."

"Why, what can they do? They never can break through the door, and when
daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens."

"Depend upon it," said I, "they will try to burn us out. The wind is
high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect they are now gone to
collect fire-wood."

"And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never thought of
that."

"We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out and fight to
the last; but everything depends on circumstances. Be guided by me, and
I will save you if I can."

"Be guided by you!"

"Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although you have the
courage of a man, still you have not been so accustomed to warfare as I
have been. I have long been accustomed to command, to plan, and to
execute, in times of peril like this."

"You have great strength and courage; I little thought what a lion I had
chained up," replied she. "Well, I love you all the better for it, and
I will be guided by you, for I perceive already