ending one after
another to his last account. Meanwhile more men kept joining us, until,
excepting a few who were on duty at other points, our whole available
force was present. I heard Andrew Menzies giving directions. I saw
Father Cleary on my left and Christopher Burley on the right, both
striking at the painted faces behind the shattered walls.

"This is hot work, Carew," Captain Rudstone found a chance to shout in
my ear, "and it's precious little use to keep it up. The devils will
soon be at us in their hundreds. Now is the time to make a safe retreat
to the house."

"I think the same," I answered, as I dodged a whizzing tomahawk; "and if
Menzies don't soon give the command I will."

The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the clamor took a deeper,
shriller pitch. We all knew what it meant--the tide was turning. Through
the gaping holes in the watch tower stamped against the snowy mist, we
saw a dark mass rolling forward--scores and scores of painted Indians.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE SIEGE OF THE HOUSE.

They had started from the woods the moment the explosion occurred, and
they would have arrived earlier but for the fresh snow that lay on the
frozen crust.

"Stand firm!" cried Menzies. "Give them a raking volley at close
quarters."

"And be ready to retire in good order," I shouted. "We can't afford to
lose a man."

With that the living tide was upon us. Screeching and veiling like
demons, the horde of savages struck the weakened northeast angle of the
fort. There was no checking them, though our muskets poured a leaden
rain. Some entered by the breach, dashing over the debris of wood and
stone; others clambered to the top of the palisades and dropped down
inside.

At the first we had to retire a little, so overwhelming was the rush.
Then we made a brief stand and tried to stem the torrent. Bang, bang,
bang! bullets flew thickly, from both sides and hissing tomahawks fell
among us. I saw two men drop near me, and heard cries of agony mingling
with the infernal din. We held our ground until the foremost of the
savages were at arm's length, striking and hacking at us through the
snow and powder smoke. Two or three score were already within the fort,
and when a section of the stockade fell with a crash--borne down by
sheer weight--I believed for a terrible moment that all was lost.

"Back, back!" I cried hoarsely. "Back for your lives, men!