e too sure that they will not make another attempt, for
they are up to all sorts of tricks, and will not give in so easily."

"What are they likely to do?" I asked.

"Try to burn us out," answered Samson. "But we must be prepared, and
show them that five well-handled rifles can cope with all the arrows and
hatchets among them. We do not lack ammunition, and might stand the
siege for a month or more."

Samson's surmises were correct. Though we could not see the Indians, we
heard their voices, and the sound of chopping, and presently a bundle of
fagots was thrown down in front of the door.

"Stand ready," said Samson, "and fire, if we can catch sight of one of
them through the loopholes."

Another and another fagot followed, but as yet so carefully had they
been thrown that we could not get a shot. It appeared to me that they
were dropped from above. The pile was increasing, and soon rising
higher than the loopholes, prevented us from seeing any one. Presently
we heard the sound of crackling, and the flames rapidly caught the pile.

"Close the loopholes," said Samson. "We'll keep out the smoke as long
as we can. The door is tough, too, and will stand the flames better
than our enemies suppose."

We all stood with our rifles in our hands, ready for any emergency.

"Should the door burn through and the cavern fill with flames, we must
rush out, lads, rather than be stifled; and we may be pretty sure of
knocking over four or five Redskins, if they stop to give us the
chance," said Samson, who had not for a moment lost his calm manner.
"It may be the smoke won't be more than we can bear. See! I am
prepared for everything." He pointed to a mass of woodwork, which leant
against the wall of the cavern. It was longer than the width of the
door, and of a height which would enable us to fire over it. "This will
serve as a barricade," he said. "When the Indians fancy that they are
going to get in without difficulty, they will find themselves stopped in
a way they little expect."

The crackling sound of the flames increased, and thin wreaths of smoke
found their way in through the crevices between the woodwork and the
rock; still the stout door resisted the fire, which we began to hope
might burn itself out without igniting our defences. We could hear the
voices of the Indians outside. They were, we guessed, piling up more
fagots, as the others had burned down.

Sandy put his hand to the door. "It's getti