the house by storm."

It was as he had feared; before the wound was properly bandaged Arthur
and Mrs. Pike were firing with the utmost rapidity, and Ben joined them
while the blood was yet running in a tiny stream down his side.

This time the enemy displayed more courage, and were less eager to
shelter themselves against the shower of bullets. They ran directly up
to the walls of the house, having made their way through the break in
the stockade, and not until nearly sunset did the two boys and their
mother have an opportunity to cease from the struggle.

During this time Mrs. Pike and her sisters did their full share of the
work by cooling the spare guns, reloading the weapons as rapidly as they
were discharged, or darting from one unprotected loop-hole to another to
make certain the savages were not adopting new tactics, and in a corner
of the room lay the lifeless bodies of the two victims.

The desperation with which the defenders of the house had fought was
shown by the bodies of the enemy strewn between the stockade and the
building.

Of the hundred and seventy which made the attack, thirty-one had paid
forfeit with their lives, or been so grievously wounded as to be unable
to regain shelter, and that there were many more, beyond view of the
defenders, who were wounded seemed probable.

The boys fully expected the most desperate hour would come after the
earth was wrapped in darkness, but in this they were mistaken.

Vigilant watch was kept by all in the dwelling, but only now and again
could an Indian be seen, and then as he was dragging away the bodies of
his fellows.

When the sun rose next morning no sign of the enemy could be seen. The
dead had been removed, and the song of birds in the thicket told that no
intruder was concealed by the foliage.

The savages believed the "garrison" had more defenders than they at
first supposed, and had beat a retreat when only two boys and four women
were opposed against them.

OAKLEIGH.

BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND.

CHAPTER V.

"Do you think they will really like me?" asked Mrs. Franklin for the
hundredth time, and for the hundredth time her husband answered,
smiling, "I think they really will."

They were just arriving at Brenton. Many inquiring eyes had been turned
towards them in the train, for every one knew John Franklin, and every
one surmised at once that this was the much-discussed second wife.

It was decided by those who saw her that she