d his courage and presence of mind. All the
women and children were told to remain within the heavy log houses,
which were thick enough to turn cannon balls, and the best shots of the
garrison manned the palisade, replying to the Indian fire.

Henry did not yet take much part in the combat. He believed that the
attack upon the palisade was largely in the nature of a feint, intended
to keep the defenders busy while the cannon did the real work. Not even
Wyandots would storm in broad daylight walls held by good riflemen. He
soon knew that he was right, as the rifle fire remained at long range
with little damage to either side, while the flatboat was steadily
drawing nearer, and the cannon were beginning to do damage. One man was
killed and another wounded. Several houses were struck, and here and
there stakes in the palisade were knocked away.

Major Braithwaite, despite his courage, showed alarm.

"How can we fight those cannons?" he said.

"Who is the best marksman you have?" asked Henry.

"Seth Cole?" replied the Major promptly.

"Will you call Seth Cole?"

Seth Cole came promptly. He was a tall, thin man, cool of eye and slow
of speech.

"Are you ready to go with me anywhere, Mr. Cole?" asked Henry.

"I'm thinkin' that what another feller kin stand I kin, too," replied
Seth.

"Then you're ready," said Henry, and he quickly told his plan.

Major Braithwaite was astonished.

"How in the name of Neptune do you ever expect to get back again, my
young friend?" he exclaimed.

"We'll get back," replied the boy confidently. "Let us slip out as
quietly as we can, Major, but if you see any movement of the Indians to
gain that side you might open a covering fire."

"I'll do it," said the Major, "and God bless you both."

He wrung their hands and they slipped away.

The palisade fronting the river ran along the very edge of the cliff,
which rose at a sharp angle and was covered with bushes clustering
thickly. It was impossible for a formidable Indian force to approach
from that side, climbing up the steep cliff, and but little attention
was paid to it.

Henry and Seth Cole waited until one of the cannon was fired, hiding the
flatboat in its smoke, and then they leaped lightly over the palisade,
landing among the bushes, where they lay hidden.

"You're sure that no one saw us?" said Henry.

"I'm thinkin' that I'm shore," replied Seth.

"Then we'll go on down the cliff."

Nimble and light-footed, they beg