did all remain around that, had
we not seen the Indian camp-fires blazing up in the distance, we should
not have supposed that the enemy was near us.

Our guests were still asleep with their arms by their sides, ready for
instant use. For one thing I was glad that Rose and Letty were safe at
Fort Ross, though I had no doubt that they would have behaved as
courageously as any girls under the circumstances could have done, and
if they had not fired the muskets, would have helped to load them, and
would have tended any who were wounded.

We showed no lights from the fort, which might have let the Indians know
that we were on the watch. We spoke also in low voices, that, should
any of them be skulking round the fort, they might not hear us.

It was about two hours past midnight; though I confess that I was
beginning to get somewhat tired, neither Alick nor I had relaxed in our
vigilance. Martin was also doing his part in watching from the tower at
the south-west angle.

It was agreed that even should we see the Indians approaching we should
give no sign that we were awake, so that our fire, when once we opened
it, might have greater effect. If one side only was attacked, the whole
garrison was to go over to defend it, leaving only a single man at the
other angles to watch lest another party might assault it on that side.

I had just gone into the tower where Martin was keeping watch, when,
turning round as he heard me enter, he whispered, "They are coming!" and
he drew me to a loophole. I looked through, and could distinguish a
mass of dark forms just issuing from the gloom, crouching low down, and
trailing their arms so as to escape observation. Having satisfied
myself that they were really our enemies coming on to attack the fort, I
hurried down to tell Alick, and to summon the men for the defence of the
side on which I supposed the assault would be made.

"Remember, lads," said Alick, "don't fire a shot till I tell you, and
the moment you have fired get another musket ready for a second
discharge."

The men sprang to their posts at the loopholes, some going to the upper
part of the tower, and some to the lower story. We were all at our
posts, when suddenly a most terrific war-whoop burst upon our ears. I
never heard so awful a noise, though I had fancied I knew what it was
like. So fearful is the sound of the Indian war-whoop that even the
most savage beasts have often been frightened out of their wits.