"No, that house is not to be lost, if I can save it!"

There was no time for argument. He pushed the boat into the stream and
darted back to the house, bolting the gates of the palisade and then the
door as he entered. He grabbed his gun and placed his bullets and
powder-horn in readiness. He then dashed upstairs quickly returning with
an armful of clothing, which he spread out upon chairs and tables. At
that moment the shots of the Indians struck the house.

A horrible fear for the safety of his family brought a shudder to Thomas
Bickford, yet, though alone in the house, he bravely began its defense.

"Steady there, shoot!" he shouted as if he had a house full of men to
command. He then pulled on an old red soldier's coat and flashed past the
window in view of the Indians peering through the chinks outside the
palisade. With another loud command and a remark in a different tone of
voice, Bickford tore off the coat, pulled on a fur hat, and came again to
view at the window. This he continued to do with frequent changes of
costume and constant shooting and shouting until the Indians lost courage
and fled for safety fearing an armed band would soon rush out upon them.

Their flight brought but a moment of relief. The house, perhaps, was
safe, but what of the family?

Not until late in the day did Thomas Bickford dare start forth in search
of them. He crept along the shore in the dusk, fearing each moment the
shot of some lurking Indian. On and on he went, yet he found no trace of
his people. At last he came upon the hollow oak that the boys had
described as their playhouse. Here he paused, for a sound came from
within.

"Can that be a hiding place of the savages?" he asked himself in alarm
and quickly turned his course. Suddenly there came from the oak a stifled
whisper, "Father!"

The family had but just escaped the sight of the Indians that morning,
and here in the hollow tree they had crouched in fear all the long day.
Now, startled lest the sound they heard outside was the tread of a
redman, the boys peeped through a knothole and saw their father.

To find each other was joy enough for one moment. The next brought the
whisper:

"Is the house saved?"

After dark all crept cautiously out to the hidden boat, and later in the
shelter of their home they listened breathlessly to the story of its
wonderful defense.

THE ATTACK AT THE PLAINS

"Scamper! The raindrops will get there before you!" Mrs. J