way, taking up musket after
musket.

Active as we were, several of the enemy climbed to the top of the
palisades, but were hurled backwards, or, being shot as they appeared,
fell down into the fort. In spite of the fate which had overtaken their
comrades, others made most daring attempts to get in. Should two or
three succeed, they, with their tomahawks, might keep a space clear for
a sufficient time to enable others to follow them, and the fort might be
taken. Now they made a desperate assault on one side, now on another,
but were each time repulsed. We had the advantage of possessing a
platform on which we could run rapidly from place to place as we were
required, while the enemy had the ditch to pass and the high palisade to
climb before they could reach the top. This enabled us to defend
ourselves in a way we could not otherwise have done; still the Indians
vastly outnumbered us, and seemed determined not to abandon their
enterprise. Several of our men had been wounded, but not severely,
while numbers of the enemy had fallen.

Pat Casey was among the most active of the garrison--now firing his
musket, now pronging at an Indian who had climbed to the top of the
palisade, now using a broadsword which he had secured to his side, all
the time shouting out, "Erin go bragh! Down with the spalpeens. Arrah!
now you're coming in, are you? Just take that thin, and find out that
you've made a mistake."

The last sentence he uttered as he ran an Indian through the shoulder
and hurled him back into the ditch.

Each man of our party knew that he was fighting for his life. No mercy
could be expected should the fort be taken; still, in spite of the
courage and activity displayed by our people, there seemed too much
probability that the enemy would succeed. It was not thought likely
that they would attack the towers, but Alick considered it necessary to
keep a man in each, who was ordered to fire away, while he watched to
give notice should the enemy attempt to attack that part of the fort.

The darkness prevented us from observing the movements of the Indians,
but I fancied as I was looking out that I saw a considerable number
retreating, and I could hear no voices coming from that side; still the
rest continued the attack, though perhaps with less energy than before.

Some time elapsed without any effort being made to climb up the
palisades. Flights of arrows were continually shot at us, and our ears
were assail