t had that very morning been got ready to carry us and
our baggage to Roseville, in case we should determine to go; while there
were three others sufficient to hold all the people on the island. We
had thus, should we be reduced to extremity, the means of escaping.

My father and I now hurried up to the top of the house. While he
examined one side, I looked to the other. What was my dismay, as I
passed close under the roof, to find our worst fears realised. Already
sparks in thick showers were falling down on the north side of the
building. Through a small hole I could see the flames flickering up,
while the fire was running along the planks with which the roof was
lined. I hurried over to tell my father.

"The fire has burst out on the other side also!" he exclaimed; "and I
have no hope of extinguishing the flames. No water which we could bring
up could do it."

We had no time to exchange further words, for wreaths of thick smoke
were descending, filling the place where we stood, and we had quickly to
make our way down to avoid suffocation.

"Call Tim and the men from the guns; they will not be able to serve them
much longer," said my father. "But we must defend the lower story as
long as we can. I will prepare your cousins. We shall have but few
minutes, I fear, to get away."

I hurried out to obey my father's directions, and tell Tim what had
happened.

"Let me have but another shot or two at the Redskin rascals. See what
they're about!" he exclaimed.

I looked down, and could distinguish a number of figures dragging
forward some long trunks of trees, with which they either intended to
form a bridge or float themselves across. Tim and the other men fired,
but the Indians did not appear to be disconcerted; indeed, the shot from
the small cannon did little more damage than the bullets from the
rifles. Had they been placed on a lower level, they would have been
much more effective.

Before the guns could be again loaded, sparks in thick showers began to
descend from the roof, and unhappily some fell among our cartridges. An
explosion followed, severely injuring one of our men. To stay longer
where we were would have been madness. We therefore retreated through
the door, amidst a volley of bullets and arrows, dragging the poor
wounded fellow with us. I told his companion to carry him into the
garden, while Tim and I hastened downstairs to assist Rochford; for the
men in the lower story were as