" said Mr Tucker, grasping his club with
a feeling that the girl's safety depended on the use he made of that
unclerical weapon.

"Come round to the east angle, all of you," shouted the blacksmith.

All the men in the Fort obeyed the summons in time to repel a vigorous
assault made on that point by what seemed to be the whole band of the
enemy, but the bride and one of her maids remained at the front gate to
keep watch there. Just as the victory was gained and the enemy were
driven off at the east angle, a loud scream was given by the women. Mr
Tucker heard it and was first to run to the rescue. He found that three
of the Blackfeet, during the assault on the other side, had crept round
to the front gate. One of these had placed his head against the
stockade, a second had mounted on his shoulders, and a third had thus
gained the top of the pickets.

Seeing at a glance how matters stood, Mr Tucker ran forward and thrust
his bludgeon with a straight point between the posts, right into the
painted face of the lower savage, who fell back at once, carrying the
second savage along with him: but the third had already laid his hands
on the top, and, vaulting over with monkey-like agility, came down on
the pastor's shoulders with such violence that both rolled together on
the ground. But the savage was no match for the athletic pastor, who
compressed his throat with a grip that soon caused him to relax his
hold.

"Here, give me your kerchief, Loo," gasped the pastor; "I'll tie his
hands."

"Why don't you stick him?" asked one of Loo's bridesmaids with great
simplicity.

"Because I won't take life if I can help it," replied Mr Tucker as he
bound the Indian's wrists.

At that moment there arose a wild war-whoop from another part of the
Fort, and a volume of smoke and flame burst from the back of the chief
dwelling-house which stood in the centre of the square. The Blackfeet
had gained an entrance at another point, and set fire to the western
wing of the building unperceived.

With a shout of rage the blacksmith and his men rushed to the scene of
disaster.

"There's father!" said Loo, with a cry of joy.

"Where?" exclaimed Mr Tucker, looking round with a bewildered air.

"Help to open the gate," cried Loo.

The pastor did so at once, and, as he heaved at the bar which held it,
he could hear the clatter of hoofs and the shouts of men outside.

The heavy gate swung back just as the cavalcade came up, and they da