yet not aware that the building was on
fire. When I told them, some showed an inclination to escape; but urged
by Rochford, Tim, and me, who set them the example, they continued
firing away as before through the loopholes. We could, of course, see
but little of what was going on in front of us, but we guessed, by the
shouts of the Indians, that they were aware of the progress the flames
were making. The hot fire we kept up, however, compelled them to remain
under shelter. We were now joined by my father, who ordered me to take
four of the men, that we might get the boats ready and the gates opened
which enclosed them in the dock. He begged Rochford to take charge of
the ladies, while he and Tim remained to the last to cover our retreat,
so that the Indians might not discover that we were about to abandon the
house, I lost no time in executing his orders, desiring the men to carry
along with them their wounded comrade. The Indians were probably not
aware that we had the means of escaping. At all events they had not, as
far as we could see, succeeded in their attempt to reach the shore of
the island, which they might have done on logs of wood, or by swimming
across--at the risk, however, of being caught by alligators, had the
saurians not been driven to a distance by the noise of the shouts and
firing. Just after we had reached the dock, and were getting the oars
ready for use, I saw, to my great relief, Rochford and my two cousins
approaching, followed by three female servants and several other women,
carrying whatever valuable property they could lay hands on.

Already the flames were bursting out from all sides in the upper part of
the house. In another minute or two the whole roof would, I feared,
come crashing down. I looked anxiously for my father and Tim, but the
continued crack of their rifles showed that they were still at their
posts.

"Oh, they will be burnt, they will be burnt!" cried my cousins, as they
saw the flames rapidly encircling the building.

I was on the point of hastening back to warn them, when Rochford sprang
forward.

"I will do it. Get all hands ready for a start;" and before I could
answer, he was already half-way across the garden.

I had still much to do. My first care was to place my cousins and the
servants in the large boat, and to distribute the women in the others,
while I ordered the men on board, and got the gates of the dock opened;
which required considerable exerti