ition of affairs, Oonamoo and O'Hara debated a
proposition proposed by the latter. It was that the Huron, who was very
fleet of foot, should instantly make all haste to the settlement, and
return with the Riflemen and a sufficient force to scatter the
besieging Indians to the four winds. This undertaking would require
more than five hours at the utmost to fulfill it, but those five hours
were so precious, that Oonamoo decided not to make the attempt. He felt
sure that unless Dernor surrendered, the party of savages would attack
the place in a body before two hours elapsed; and, brave and determined
as he knew the Rifleman to be, he could see that a resistance upon his
part would be useless. He, therefore, acted with his usual wisdom, in
deciding to remain upon the ground to render assistance when it would
be needed.

The first plan adopted by O'Hara and the Huron was to keep their
position, remaining carefully concealed, until the savages should move
forward to the assault, when, as the former expressed it, they would
"wade in promiscuously." This project offered to its originators the
great point of excitement and desperate fighting, but was finally
rejected by the Huron for the last reason.

It is a very pleasant thing for a nation to think itself invincible and
able to conquer all others with which it may come in collision. The
same sensations, in a smaller degree, no doubt are experienced by two
persons when, in the flush of the moment, they feel able to combat with
five times their numbers; but, if time be allowed, the "sober second
thought" will prevail, and action will be guided more by prudence than
madness. The Huron was as brave a man as ever breathed, but he was also
as shrewd and cunning. He knew well enough that should he and O'Hara
rush in upon ten desperate, well-armed warriors, no matter how fiercely
they might fight, the result would be that both would be killed and no
one benefited. He, therefore, determined to resort once more to his
powers of stratagem.

The great point now was to make Dernor aware of the vicinity of his two
friends. Without this Oonamoo would be more likely to be shot by him
than by the savages. This part of the stratagem was the most difficult
to accomplish. The Shawnees and Miamis being collected at one end of
the clearing, it could not be expected that any signal, however
skillfully or guardedly made, would attract the notice of Dernor. It
might possibly be seen by Edith, but