remain with Uncle Jeff, I could not bear the thought of your leaving
him. Besides, he seems to be confident that he will be able to beat off
the enemy, should the farm be attacked."

I confess that I was in two minds on the subject until the last moment.

The plans being arranged, no time was lost in making the necessary
preparations. The horses which had been selected for the journey having
been well fed and watered, were brought to the door. Clarice was soon
ready. She was a good horse-woman, and even Rachel had been accustomed
to the saddle in former years.

I wrung my friend's hand.

"You will take care of my sister, I know you will," I said as I parted
from him.

"Indeed, Ralph, I will," he answered solemnly; and I felt that she was
as safe as she would have been had I accompanied her.

The moon was now shining brightly, and enabled the lieutenant and his
companions to pursue their way at a rapid rate. They took no baggage
except such as could be strapped to the saddles of their horses; they
were, therefore, not impeded as we had been by slow-moving mules. It
was nearly midnight when they set off; and as little noise as possible
was made when they left the house, in case any of the enemy's scouts
watching in the neighbourhood might hear them.

The stranger Indian had, some time before the party set off, thrown
himself on a buffalo robe in a corner of the room, and was apparently
asleep; but I suspected that he knew pretty well all that was going
forward. He remained, however, without moving, as if in a sound
slumber.

As soon as Uncle Jeff and I returned (we had accompanied our friends a
little way down the hill), Uncle Jeff addressed his small garrison.

"Putting all things together, lads," said he, "I believe these Redskin
varmints whom we have been hearing of for some days past will really at
last make an attempt to rob the farm; but I know that you will fight to
the last, and we shall manage to drive them off. There is no reason why
we should not feel confident of success. We have a good store of powder
and bullets, with trustworthy rifles and muskets; and what more, pray,
can men wish for?"

The men, one and all, promised to stand by him.

"That is all I want," he answered. "The first thing we have to do is to
barricade the lower windows and the doors, so that while we are
defending one side the Indians may not walk in at the other."

There were ten of us altogether, and having abunda