uddenly about, while Pierre, clutching me by
the shoulder, said hurriedly:

"Do not shoot a man in the back! Thus far we have but defended
ourselves, and will not shed blood needlessly. It may be they have got a
full dose, and we are done with them for the time being.

"Don' let dat idee run away wid you, chile," Uncle 'Rasmus cried in
quavering tones. "Once a Britisher hab done trapped sich as we, he's
boun' to keep up de sport."

I myself believed Uncle 'Rasmus spoke the truth, for it did not seem
possible these soldiers of the king would allow themselves to be beaten
off so suddenly, more particularly since one of their number lay at full
length on the ground in front of us apparently unable to move.

Pierre and I reloaded the muskets which had been discharged, and then
during ten minutes or more we stood with our eyes glued to the crevices
between the puncheon planks, watching for the next token of danger,
while all around the cannon of the Americans roared and thundered,
sending across the village balls and flaming bombs until it was as if we
had above our heads a veritable roof of flying, deadly missiles.

When mayhap ten minutes had passed we received good proof that Uncle
'Rasmus was in the right, for then from out the redoubt came a squad of
red-coats, no less than twenty I should say, and tailing on behind them,
seemingly not eager to occupy any post of danger, were Abel Hunt and
Horry Sims.

"It looks to me as if our race was well-nigh run," Saul said grimly, and
even in that time of deadly peril did my heart go out in rejoicing
toward the lad whose courage revived at seemingly the very moment when
his doom was sealed.

This last force of the enemy was not disposed to venture as carelessly
as had the first, for while they were yet a musket-shot distant they
separated into three squads, two of which made a wide detour around both
ends of the cabin, taking good care meanwhile to keep out of range, and
the third halted in their tracks, evidently waiting until their comrades
had taken up such positions as had previously been decided upon.

"They are going around to the back of the cabin, and most like count on
attacking us through the roof, for it must be plain to them, even at
such a distance, that the hovel has been shattered by cannon balls,"
Pierre said, and I leaped toward the ladder, whereupon he sprang after
me, counting on pulling me back as he said almost angrily:

"That is my place, Fitz Hamil