and both his sons were wounded, although they refused
to retire, and continued firing through the loop-holed walls. The
fiercest attack was made on the gate, which Mysticoose evidently hoped
to break open, and to force his way in. Loraine undertook to defend it
to the last. Captain Mackintosh, knowing that he would do so, was able
to turn his attention to other points.

Notwithstanding the desperate manner in which they came on to the
attack, the assailants were kept at bay; but so much powder had at
length been expended, that Captain Mackintosh found to his dismay that
the stock was running short.

"We must manage to hold out until daylight, and then, through Heaven's
mercy, the savages may be induced to give up the attempt," he observed
to Sandy, who brought him the alarming information.

"Ay, sir, that we will; and when the powder is done, we will take to our
pikes and bayonets. The Redskins will have no mind to face them."

The savage chief seemed resolved, however, to succeed. Again and again
he and his followers rushed up to the gate, which they assailed with
their axes, hewing at the stout wood in the expectation of cutting it
through. Many fell in the attempt by the hot fire kept up on them from
either side.

At last they were driven back, and the garrison gave vent to a loud
cheer, confident that the enemy were about to take to flight.

For a short interval the fighting ceased; but the savages, urged by
Mysticoose, again came on, this time to make another effort to scale the
palisades. Some stood on the backs of their companions, trying to reach
the summit; others tugged away at the stout timbers, endeavouring to
pull them down; but they resisted all their efforts.

The defenders of the fort rushed here and there, striking fierce blows
with their axes wherever an Indian showed himself, thrusting with their
pikes, and hurling back their assailants. Still, it was too likely that
numbers would prevail. On either side the Indians were swarming up, and
one man had often to contend with a dozen before others of the defenders
could come to his assistance. Several more of the garrison had been
wounded; but no one, while he had strength to wield a weapon, retired
from his post. At last the Indians, finding that so many of their party
had fallen, and that, in spite of all their efforts, they were unable to
climb over the palisades, desisted from the attempt, and again retired
out of gunshot. Though the