rise." This was hardly
spoken before an arrow whizzed over their heads, and, striking against
the stone wall of the house, fell at the feet of Joe.

"Ugh! look at that!" cried he, leaping some ten feet away.

"Go in, child--and the rest to their posts!" remarked Boone, first to
Mary, and then addressing the men.

"Yes--_do_ go in, Miss!" cried Joe, forcing Mary into the house, where
he also seemed determined to remain himself.

"Come out here!" cried Sneak, going to the door.

"Wait till I screw a flint in my musket," said Joe.

"You can see better out here," replied Sneak.

"But I haven't found the flint yet," answered Joe.

"He's a coward!" said Sneak, turning away and going to his post,
whence he could watch the valley below.

Boone's station was on the opposite side, in the direction of the
supposed encampment of the Indians. But not a savage could now be
seen, and the arrow that fell among them had evidently been discharged
from a great distance above.

"Shall we fire if any of them come within the range of our guns?"
inquired Glenn, from his position on the east, which overlooked the
cliff.

"Certainly," replied Boone; "the arrow was their declaration of war,
and if they are again seen, it will be in a hostile attitude. Watch
close, Sneak!" he cried, as another shaft flew over the palisade from
the valley below, and penetrated the wood but a few feet above his
head.

"Come out to your post, Joe!" cried Glenn, impatiently.

"I will presently--as soon as I get my gun fixed," replied Joe.

"If you do not come forth instantly, I'll thrust you out of the
inclosure!" continued Glenn, somewhat fiercely.

"Here I am," said Joe, coming out, and making an effort to assume a
bold bearing: "I'm ready now--I only wanted to fix my gun--who's
afraid?" saying which, he strode in a stooping posture to the loophole
on the west of the inclosure.

While the whole male force of the garrison was required to act as
sentinels, Mary, whose trepidation had been succeeded by deliberate
resolution, was busily employed moulding bullets.

An hour passed, and no Indians had yet been seen, although an
occasional arrow assured the besieged party that the enemy still
remained in the immediate vicinity. They cleared away the snow at
their posts, and placing dry straw to stand upon, prepared to continue
the watch throughout the day and night. Nor were they to suffer for
food; for Mary, though she had not been requested so to do