ll save two who dropped over in our
midst, and fought desperately for a time before they were despatched.

As silence--an ominous silence full of danger and portent--fell upon us
again here, we could tell that quite as desperate a struggle was going
on at other points of the palisading. Flash was succeeded by report and
yell, so loud and continuous that we knew now that the Indians were
delivering their attack in four different places; and more than once I
shuddered as I felt how terrible it would be should one of these bands
gain an entry. I knew enough of such matters from old conversations
with my father, to be able to grasp that if a party did get in over the
stockade they would desperately attack one of our defending companies in
the rear, and the others in response to their yells would come on at the
same moment, when our numbers and discipline would be of little value in
a hand-to-hand attack with the lithe savages, whose axes and knives
would be deadly weapons at close quarters.

For quite half an hour the firing and yelling continued. Then it ceased
as quickly as it had begun, and the Indians seemed to have retreated.

But there was no relaxation of our watchfulness, for we could not tell
but that in their silent furtive way the enemy were preparing for a
fresh assault, or perhaps merely resting and gathering together to come
on in one spot all at once.

"More likely to make a feint somewhere," I heard the General say to my
father. "If they do it will be to make a big attack somewhere else, and
that is where the supports must be ready to flock down."

"You will see to that, sir?" said my father.

"Yes. You and Preston cannot do better service," continued the General,
"so keep your places."

"Pomp," I whispered; "where are you?"

"Here, Mass' George."

"Let's go all round, and you can tell me where the Indians are gathering
now."

"Pomp go outside," he said, softly. "Climb over."

"No, no; they would see and kill you."

"No. Dey too 'tupid. I go ober. You gib leg lil hyste up."

"I tell you no. Come along with me, and let's try and find out where
they are."

"Much too dark, Mass' George, but I look all de same, try and fine em."

"Quick then; come!"

We started off, creeping along silently close inside the great palisade,
and stopping to listen from time to time.

We had left one of the parties that defended the palisade close to the
far side of the gate behind for about twenty yar