assing across this open ground we should lose many men from the
cannon shots, and with so small a force remaining, might not be
able to resist the onrush of so great numbers. Let us prepare,
however, to prop up the gates should they fall, and tonight we will
silence their guns."

At nightfall the gates, although sorely bruised and battered, and
pierced in many places, still stood; being shored up with beams
from behind. At ten o'clock twenty of the garrison were let down by
ropes at the back of the castle, for Ned thought that scouts might
be lurking near the gates, to give notice of any sortie. With great
precaution and in perfect silence they made a way round, and were
within a hundred yards of the battery before their approach was
discovered.

Then, headed by the governor, who was a valiant man by nature, and
the four English, they ran at great speed forward, and were inside
the battery before the enemy could gather to resist them. The
battle was indeed a hard one; for the Indians, with their clubs,
fought valorously. Reuben and Tom, having been furnished with
hammer and long nails, proceeded to spike the guns; which they did
with great quickness, their doings being covered, alike, by their
friends and by darkness. When they had finished their task they
gave the signal, and the Portuguese, being sorely pressed, fell
back fighting strongly to the castle, where the gates were opened
to receive them. In this sortie they lost eight men.

The next morning at dawn the natives, being gathered in large
numbers, came on to the assault, uttering loud and fierce cries.
The cannon on the roof, which were under the charge of Tom and
Reuben, at once opened fire upon them, while the soldiers upon the
walls shot briskly with their musketoons. The natives, however,
appeared determined to succeed and, firing a cloud of arrows,
pushed forward towards the gate. Among them were borne, each by
some thirty natives, long trees; and this party, surrounded by the
main body, proceeded rapidly towards the gate, which, damaged as it
was, they hoped easily to overthrow.

The fire of the two culverins was, however, so deadly, and the
concentrated discharge of the musketoons upon them as they advanced
so fatal that, after trying several times to approach close to the
gate, the natives dropped the great logs and fled.

Chapter 21: Wholesale Conversion.

That day and the three which followed passed without adventure. The
natives we