like
foaming war-steeds, spring, The bloodhounds darken land and water, They
come--like buffaloes for slaughter.--G. P. MORRIS.

At that point from which the Huron had advanced to the fort, the
Shawnees and Miamis had now collected, preparatory to their final
attack upon it. The wood being thick at this spot, they had little
difficulty in keeping their bodies out of sight, the besieged being
enabled to judge of their position by the points of their rifles and
portions of their dress, which they took no pains to conceal.

"That means business," said Dernor, loosening his knife, and examining
the priming of his rifle. "What's their idea, Oonamoo?"

"Run all togedder--make big rush--all come from one side."

Being satisfied of this, the Huron crossed over to the side of the
hunter, so as to be ready for the assault. He was as cool as if sitting
in his own wigwam, although none was more aware than himself of the
peril that hung over his head. Could the Shawnees or Miamis once obtain
his person, no species of torment that their fiendish minds could
invent would be left untried upon him. But he had played hide-and-seek
too long with death, to be disconcerted in a moment like this.

"What are they waiting for?" asked Dernor, who began to grow impatient
at the delay.

"Ain't waitin'--here dey come!"

As he spoke, ten Indians suddenly appeared to view, from behind as many
trees, and, pausing a moment, set up a yell that must have been heard
miles distant, and rushed with the speed of the whirlwind toward the
fort. Half-way across the clearing they had come, when the sharp crack
of two rifles was heard, and the two foremost savages, making a
tremendous bound in the air, came down to the ground in their
death-struggles. But the others were not checked in the least. On they
came, right over the prostrate bodies, and the next minute were tearing
at the pile of logs, with the fury of madmen.

The Rifleman and the Huron had discharged their rifles together at the
savages, as they came pouring forward; then drawing their knives, they
awaited the onset. The logs, loosely thrown together, could not long
resist the efforts to dislodge them, and, in a few minutes, came
tumbling to the ground. The first bronzed skull that appeared above
them was shattered like an egg-shell, by the stock of the Huron's
rifle; while, as the savages swarmed in, Dernor stooped, and catching
Edith round the waist, bounded clear of the logs, and dashe