would have been difficult to stop up the hole, we
allowed it to remain.

Doubting, however, that the Indians had gone off altogether, we kept a
vigilant watch for their return. We soon found, indeed, that they were
not so easily defeated as we had hoped. Again looking out of the
window, I saw them coming back, each man loaded with a mass of
brushwood. Their object was evidently to kindle a fire round the door;
and having burned it down, to rush in and capture us while we were
smothered with smoke. It was of the greatest importance to prevent them
from placing the fagots as they intended; and Tim once more resumed his
post at the window to fire at them as they approached. The wood they
carried served as shields, which they held over their heads, and
trusting to this protection they rushed forward, each man throwing down
his load as he got near the door; but the bullets from Tim's rifle
struck several of them before they got as close as they intended.
Notwithstanding this, however, a heap of firewood was piled up, in a
short time, close to one side of the building. The Indians must,
however, have known that the moment the flames burst forth, they would
be brought into sight, and be more exposed than heretofore to our shots,
and they therefore seemed very unwilling to set fire to it. At length
the last fagot was thrown down, and Tim told us that he saw an Indian
approaching with a flaming torch, which he had kindled at a distance.

"The fellow keeps leaping about like a regular Jack-o'-lantern; but I'll
soon put a stop to his dancing," he added.

The Indians, however, must have foreseen that the torch-bearer would be
specially exposed, and to cover his advance they began shooting their
arrows with a rapidity which compelled Tim to keep under shelter.
Several came through the window, while others struck the stones on
either side. Still undaunted, Tim stood ready to fire. It must be
remembered that we were in comparative darkness, the faint light which
came through the windows alone enabling us to load our rifles, and see
our way about the little rooms in which we were stationed. Again Tim
stepped forward; the crack of his rifle was heard.

"I'm mightily afraid that I missed him," he cried, as he sprang back
under shelter. "Hand me up another rifle."

Once more he fired.

"I've hit him this time," he cried out; "but sure the fellow has thrown
his torch among the fagots."

The thick smoke which in another