much indifference."

"But, Bessy," interposed the Colonel, seeing Virginia was silent under
this unusual kind of argument, "your agitation will only make the matter
worse. If you give way thus, we cannot be as ready and cool in action as
we should. Come now, dear Bessy, calm yourself."

"Oh, yes, it's well to say that, after bringing me all the way into this
wild country, to be devoured by these wild Indians. Oh, that I should
ever have consented to leave my quiet home in dear old England for this!
And all because a protector reigned instead of a king. Protector,
forsooth; I would rather have a hundred protectors at this moment than
one king."

"Father," said Virginia, in a tremulous voice, "had we not better retire
to some other part of the house? We can only incommode you here."

"Right, my girl," said her father. "Take your mother up stairs into your
room, and try and compose her."

"Take me, indeed," said his worthy spouse. "Colonel Temple, you speak as
if I was a baby, to be carried about as you choose. I assure you, I will
not budge a foot from you."

"Stay where you are then," replied Temple, impatiently, "and for God's
sake be calm. Ha! now my boys--here they come!" and a wild yell, which
seemed to crack the very welkin, announced the appearance of the enemy.

"I think we had all better go to the upper windows," said Hansford,
calmly. "There is nothing to be done by being shut up in this dark hall;
while there, protected from their arrows, we may do some damage to the
enemy. If we remain, our only chance is to make a desperate sally, in
which we would be almost certainly destroyed."

"Mr. Hansford," said Virginia, "give me a gun--there is one left--and
you shall see that a young girl, in an hour of peril like this, knows
how to aid brave men in her own defence."

Hansford bent an admiring glance upon the heroic girl, as he placed the
weapon in her hands, while her father said, with rapture, "God bless
you, my daughter. If your arm were strong as your heart is brave, you
had been a hero. I retract what I said on yesterday," he added in a
whisper, with a sad smile, "for you have this day proved yourself worthy
to be a brave man's wife."

The suggestion of Hansford was readily agreed upon, and the little party
were soon at their posts, shielded by the windows from the attack of the
Indians, and yet in a position from which they could annoy the enemy
considerably by their own fire. From his shelter there,