Edith."

"Nor shall you, my dear fellow, and I would join you in it with all my
heart if it were not for my duty here," replied the other, earnestly.
"At present, though, it would be more than folly to attempt an escape
from this place, and our only hope is to hold out until Wilkins sends
the reinforcements for which I have applied through Cuyler."

"Is there any chance of doing it?"

"There is every chance for us to do our best in trying."

A minute later the two young men had passed into the blockhouse, its
heavy oaken door was slammed and barred behind them, and the defence of
the little wilderness stronghold was begun.

CHAPTER XXIV

CHRISTIE'S BRAVE DEFENCE OF HIS POST

Twenty men, with scanty supplies of everything, shut up in a tiny
castle of logs, and fighting against two hundred, who were well armed,
well provisioned, and protected by natural earthworks, not over forty
yards distant. Donald's heart grew heavy as he realized the situation;
but with Christie's cheery voice in his ears he could do naught save
follow so brave an example and set to work with a will. There was
plenty to be done in that hot little enclosure, already filling with
smoke, and only lighted by narrow loop-holes pierced in the thick
walls. The fire of the enemy was chiefly directed at these, which
rendered the task of watching from them most dangerous. Still, it must
be done, for many of the Indians were brave enough to dash across the
open with blazing firebrands in hand, and these must be stopped at all
costs. Half a dozen were killed in this attempt before it was
abandoned, and the efforts to set the blockhouse on fire were continued
by another and most ingenious device.

This was the throw-stick, or fire-bow, which they soon began to work
with serious effect from behind their breastworks, which they had
strengthened by rolling logs to the top of the banks. The fire-bow was
a stout bar of ash, hickory, or other pliant wood, one end of which was
firmly set in the earth. In the other was hollowed a shallow cavity,
and just beneath was attached a stout thong, by which the bow could be
drawn back. A ball of tow, or other inflammable material, wound about
a small stone to give it weight, was saturated with pitch. The upper
end of the bow was drawn back, a fire ball placed in the cavity and
lighted, the thong released, and the blazing missile projected with the
force and accuracy of an arrow against the devoted buildin