" I protested, "but a simple statement of fact. And
there is another here," I added, turning to Mrs. Marsh, "whose conduct
should be remembered. I have never seen a braver man," and I glanced at
Brightson where he sat, his musket across his knees.

"I shall remember it," she said, as she followed my eyes.

A burst of yells and a piercing cry from below interrupted us.

"What was that?" asked Dorothy, white to the lips.

"They have found one of the negroes," I answered, as calmly as I could.
"They ran away, and must have hidden somewhere in the house."

We sat listening, the women pale and horror-stricken, and even Brightson
and I no little moved. The yells and the single shrill cry were repeated
a second time and then a third, and finally all was still again save for
the negro women wailing softly, as they rocked themselves to and fro
behind the gable, their arms about their knees. I crept back to my
station by the trap and waited feverishly for what should happen next.
We could hear steps in the hall below, a short consultation and a
clanking of arms, and then all was still.

"Here they come," said Brightson, between his teeth, and even as he
spoke, the trap was thrown outward by a great force from below, and the
savage swarm poured forth upon the roof. I struck madly at the first man,
and saw another fall, pierced by a bullet from Brightson's gun, and then
he was down and I heard the sough of a knife thrust into him.

"They are coming! They are coming!" screamed a shrill voice behind me,
and I turned to see Dorothy upright on the roof, pointing away to the
southward. And there, sure enough, at the edge of the clearing, was a
troop of Virginians, galloping like mad. Ah, how welcome were those blue
uniforms! We could hear them cheering, and, with a leaping heart, I saw
it was Colonel Washington himself who led them.

For an instant the Indians stood transfixed, and then, with a yell,
turned back toward the trap. All save one. I saw him raise his musket to
his shoulder and take deliberate aim at Dorothy as she stood there
outlined in white against the purple sky. I sprang at him with a cry of
rage, and dragged his gun toward me as he pulled the trigger. There was a
burst of flame in my face, a ringing in my ears, I felt the earth
slipping from me, and knew no more.

CHAPTER XXVII

I COME INTO MY OWN

It was long before I realized that that white, bandaged thing lying on
the bed before me was my hand.