d be
exposed to a fire from the other house, and apprehending no danger
from the woman and children, he closed the door and seemed for a time
only intent on the means of escaping.

Edward Cunningham had seen the savage enter his brother's house, and
fastened his own door, seized his gun and stepping to a small aperture
in the wall next the house in which was the Indian, and which served
as well for a port hole as for the admission of light, was ready to
fire whenever the savage should make his appearance. But in the other
house was a like aperture, and through it the Indian fired at Edward,
and shouted the yell of victory. It was answered by Edward. He had
seen the aim of the savage only in time to avoid it,--the bark from
the log close to his head, was knocked off by the ball and flew into
his face. The Indian seeing that he had missed his object, and
observing an adze in the room, deliberately commenced cutting an
aperture in the back wall through which he might pass out without
being exposed to a shot from the other building.[3]

Another of the Indians came into the yard just after the firing of his
companion, but observing Edward's gun pointing through the port hole,
he endeavored to retreat out of its range. He failed of his purpose.
Just as he was about to spring over the fence, the gun was fired and
he fell forward. The ball however only fractured his thigh bone, and
he was yet able to hobble over the fence and take shelter behind a
[273] coverlet suspended on it, before Edward could again load his
gun.

While the Indian was engaged in cutting a hole in the wall, Mrs.
Cunningham made no attempt to get out. She was well aware that it
would draw down upon her head the fury of the savage; and that if she
escaped this, she would most probably be killed by some of those who
were watching around, before the other door could be opened for her
admission.--She knew too, that it was impossible for her to take the
children with her, and could not brook the idea of leaving them in the
hands of the savage monster. She even trusted to the hope that he
would withdraw, as soon as he could, without molesting any of them. A
few minutes served to convince her of the fallacy of this expectation.
When the opening had been made sufficiently large, he raised his
tomahawk, sunk it deep into the brains of one of the children, and
throwing the scarcely lifeless body into the back yard, ordered the
mother to follow after. There was no