minute came curling up around us proved
too truly that the Indian had effected his purpose; while the arrows
which flew in at the window prevented us from firing. We could hear
their shrieks and cries of triumph, as they believed that in a short
time we should become their victims. None of us, however, thought of
yielding. To avoid the smoke we went down to the lower story. Although
a small quantity made its way through the crack, we could breathe
freely, and we calculated that it would take some time before the outer
door was burned through. We held a consultation as to how we should act
when that should happen. Carlos was for rushing out, firing a volley at
our assailants, and endeavouring to drive them back with our
hunting-knives. Tim advised that we should hold the fort to the last.
"Sure, a little smoke won't do us any harm," he exclaimed. "The
Redskins will have to clear away the ashes before they can get in, an'
we shall then have an opportunity of shooting down not a few of them
when they do that."
Lejoillie proposed that we should retire to the upper story, to which
the Indians would not probably venture to ascend, as it could only be
reached by a trap-door.
I, however, pointed out that they might fill the interior of the
building with fagots, and setting them on fire, literally roast us. I
therefore thought our safest plan would be to remain on the
ground-floor, as Tim had proposed. Our guide also thought Tim was
right, and we soon won Carlos and Lejoillie over to our opinion.
We spent, as may be supposed, a very anxious time. The fagots, being
composed chiefly of green wood, though they caused a great smoke
outside, did not burn as rapidly as we expected, and as yet the door,
when we felt it, was not even hot. This satisfied us that hours might
elapse before it was burned through. I again ran upstairs, and in spite
of the smoke which came through the window, on looking out as the
wreaths were occasionally blown aside, I saw that the Indians were
keeping under cover to avoid our bullets, and waiting until the fire had
done its work. They, of course, knew that the glare of the flames would
expose them to view should they venture into the open. Finding that the
top of the tower was tolerably free from smoke, I climbed up to the
lantern whence I could obtain a view over the sea. I looked out eagerly
for the schooner. She must have come up to the spot where we had left
her, but she was no
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