 Preface of True to the Old Flag. My dear lads, you have probably been accustomed to regard the war between England and her colonies in America as one in which we were not only beaten, but to some extent humiliated. Owing to the war having been an unsuccessful one for our arms, British writers have avoided the subject, and it has been left for American historians to describe. These, writing for their own countrymen and drawing for their facts upon gazettes, letters, and other documents emanating from one side only, have naturally and no doubt insensibly given a very strong color to their own views of the events, and English writers have been too much inclined to accept their account implicitly. There is, however, another and very different side to the story, and this I have endeavored to show you. The whole of the facts and details connected with the war can be relied upon as accurate. They are drawn from the valuable account of the struggle written by Major Steadman, who served under Howe, Clinton, and Cornwallis, and from other authentic contemporary sources. You will see that although unsuccessful, and success was, under the circumstances, a sheer impossibility, the British troops fought with a bravery which was never exceeded, and that their victories in actual conflict vastly outnumbered their defeats. Indeed it may be doubted whether in any war in which this country has been engaged have our soldiers exhibited the qualities of endurance and courage to a higher degree. Yours very sincerely, G. A. Henty. My dear cousin, I am leaving next week with my husband for England, and I will see him where we intend to pass some time visiting his friends. John and I have determined to accept the invitation you gave us last summer for Harold to come and spend a few months with you. His father thinks that a great future will air many years open in the west, and that it is therefore well the boy should learn something of frontier life. For myself I would rather that he stayed quietly at home, for he is at present overfond of adventure. But as my husband is meditating, selling his estate here and moving west, it is perhaps better for him. Massachusetts is in a ferment, as indeed are all the eastern states, and the people talk openly of armed resistance against the government. My husband, being of English birth and having served in the King's army, cannot brook what he calls the rebellious talk which is common among his neighbors, and is already on bad terms with many around us. I myself am, as it were, a neutral. As an American woman, it seems to me that the colonists have been dealt with somewhat harshly by the English Parliament, and that the measures of the latter have been high-handed and arbitrary. Upon the other hand I naturally inclined toward my husband's views. He maintains that as the King's army has driven out the French and gives protection to the colony, it is only fair that the colonists should contribute to its expenses. The English ask for no contributions toward the expense of their own country, but demand that at least the expenses of the protection of the colony shall not be charged upon the heavily taxed people at home. As to the law that the colony shall trade only with the mother country, my husband says that this is the rule in the colonies of Spain, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, and that the people here, who can obtain what land they choose and till it without rent, should not grumble at paying this small tax to the mother country. However it be I fear that troubles will come, and this place being the head and focus of the party hostile to England, my husband feeling himself out of accord with all his neighbors, saving a few loyal gentlemen like himself, is thinking much and seriously of selling our estate here, and of moving away into the new countries of the West, where we will be free from all the disputation and contentious talk which occupied indeed cousin times have sadly changed since you were staying here with us five years ago. Then our life was a peaceful and quiet one. Now there is nothing but wrangling and strife. The dissenting clergy are, as my husband says, was the case in England before the Great Civil War, the fomenters of this content. There are many busy bodies who pass their time in stirring up the people by violent harangues and seditious writings. Therefore everyone takes one side or the other, and there is neither peace nor comfort in life. Accustomed as I have always been to living in ease and affluence, I dread somewhat the thought of a life on the Indian front here. One has heard so many dreadful stories of Indian fights and massacres that I tremble a little at the prospect. But I do not mention this to John, for as other women are like yourself brave enough to support these dangers, I would not appear a coward in his eyes. You will see, cousin, that as this prospect is before us, it is well that Harold should learn the ways of a frontier life. Moreover, John does not like the thought of leaving him here while we are in England, for as he says, the boy might learn to become a rebel in his absence. Therefore, my dear cousin, we have resolved to send him to you. An opportunity offers in the fact that a gentleman of our acquaintance is, with his family, going this week west, with the intention of settling there. And he will, he tells us, go first to Detroit, whence he will be able to send Harold forward to your farm. The boy himself is delighted at the thought and promises to return an accomplished back woodsman. John joins me in kind love to yourself and your husband and believe me to remain your affectionate cousin, Mary Wilson. Four months after the date of the above letter, a lad some fifteen years old was walking with a man of middle age on the shores of Lake Huron. Behind them was a large clearing of about a hundred acres in extent, a comfortable house with buildings for cattle stood at a distance of some three hundred yards from the lake. Broad fields of yellow corn waved brightly in the sun, and from the edge of the clearing came the sound of a woodsman's axe, showing that the proprietor was still enlarging the limits of his farm. Surrounding the house at a distance of twenty yards was a strong stockade some seven feet in height, formed of young trees, pointed at the upper end, squared and fixed firmly in the ground. The house itself, although far more spacious and comfortable than the majority of backwood farm, was built in the usual fashion of solid logs and was evidently designed to resist attack. William Welch had settled ten years before on this spot, which was then far removed from the nearest habitation. It would have been a very imprudent act under ordinary circumstances to have established himself in so lonely a position so far removed from the possibility of assistance in case of attack. He settled there, however, just after Pontiac, who was at the head of an alliance of all the Indian tribes of those parts, had, after the long and desperate siege of Fort Pitt, made peace with us upon finding that his friends, the friends, had given up all thought of further resistance to the English and had entirely abandoned the country. Mr. Welch thought, therefore, that a permanent peace was likely to reign on the frontier and that he might safely establish himself in the charming location he had pitched upon, far removed from the confines of civilization. The spot was a natural clearing of some forty acres in extent, sloping down to the water's edge, and a more charming sight could hardly have been chosen. Mr. Welch had brought with him three farm laborers from the east, and as time went on he extended the clearing by cutting down the forest giants which bordered it. But in spite of the beauty of the position, the fertility of the soil, the abundance of his crops, and the advantages afforded by the lake, both from its plentiful supply of fish, and as a highway by which he could convey his produce to market, he had more than once regretted his choice of location. It was true that there had been no Indian wars on a large scale, but the Indians had several times broken out in sudden incursions. Three times he had been attacked, but fortunately only by small parties which he had been enabled to beat off. Once, when a more serious danger threatened him, he had been obliged to embark with his wife and child and his more valuable chattels in the great scow in which he carried his produce to market, and had to take refuge in the settlements to find on his return his buildings destroyed and his farm wasted. At that time he had serious thoughts of abandoning his location altogether, but the settlements were extending rapidly toward him, and with the prospect of having neighbors before long and the natural reluctance to give up a place upon which he had expended so much toil, he decided to hold on, hoping that more quiet times would prevail until other settlers would take up land around him. The house had been rebuilt more strongly than before. He now employed four men and had been unmolested since his return to his farm, three years before the date of this story. Already two or three locations had been taken up on the shores of the lake beyond him. A village had grown up thirty-five miles away, and several settlers had established themselves between that place and his home. So are you going out fishing this morning, Harold, Mr. Welch said? I hope you will bring back a good supply, for the larder is low. I was looking at you yesterday, and I see that you are becoming a first-rate hand at the management of a canoe. So I ought to be, the boy said, considering that for nearly three months I have done nothing but shoot and fish. You have a sharp eye, Harold, and will make a good backwoodsman one of these days. You can shoot nearly as well as I can now. It is lucky that I had a good stock of powder and lead on hand. Firing away by the hour together, as you do, consumes a large amount of ammunition. See, there is a canoe on the lake. It is coming this way, too. There is but one man in it. He is awight by his clothes. For a minute or two they stood watching the boat, and then, seeing that its course was directed toward the shore, they walked down to the edge of the lake to meet it. Ah, Pearson, is that you, Mr. Welch asked? I thought I knew your long sweeping stroke at a distance. You've been hunting, I see. That is a fine stag you have got there. What is the news? About as bad as can be, Mr. Welch, the hunter said. The Iroquois have dug up the tomahawk again and are out on the warpath. They have massacred John Brent and his family. I heard a talk of it among some hunters I met ten days since in the woods. They said that the Iroquois were restless and that their chief war eagle, one of the most troublesome varmints on the whole frontier, had been stirring them up to war. He told them, I heard, that the pale faces were pushing further and further into the engine woods, and that unless they drove them back, the red-skinned hunting grounds would be gone. I hoped that nothing would come of it, but I might have known better. When the red-skins begin to stir, there's sure to be mischief before they're quiet again. The color had somewhat left Mr. Welch's cheeks as the hunter spoke. This is bad news indeed, Pearson, he said gravely. Are you sure about the attack on the Brents? Sarton sure, the hunter said. I met their herder. He'd been down to Johnson's to fetch a barrel of pork. Just when he got back he heard the engine yells and saw smoke rising in the clearing. So he dropped the barrel and made tracks. I met him at Johnson's where he had just arrived. Johnson was packing up with all haste and was going to leave, and so I said I would take my canoe and come down the lake, giving you all warning on the way. I stopped at Burns's and Hooper's. Burns said he should clear out at once, but Hooper talked about seeing it through. He's got no wife to be scary about, and reckoned that with his two hands he could defend his log hut. I told him I reckoned he would get his heart raised if the engines came that way, but, of course, that's his business. What do you advise, Pearson? I do not like abandoning this farm to the mercy of the Redskins. It would be a pity, Master Welch, that's as true as gospel. It's the likeliest clearing within fifty miles round, and you've fixed the place up as snug and comfortable as if it were a farm in the old provinces. And, of course, the question is what this war eagle intends to do. His section of the tribe is pretty considerable strong, and although at present I ain't heard that any others have joined, these engines are like barrels of gunpowder. When the spark is once struck there's no saying how far the explosion may spread. When one band of them seizes how another is taking scalps and getting plunder and honor, they all want to be at the same work. I reckon war eagle has got some two hundred braves who will follow him, but when the news spreads that he has begun his work all the Iroquois, to say nothing of the Shaunis, Delaware's, and other varmints may dig up the hatchet. The question is what war eagle's intentions are. He may make a clean sweep down, attacking all the outlying farms and waiting till he is joined by a lot more of the Red Riptiles before attacking the settlements. Then, on the other hand, he may think himself strong enough to strike a blow at Gloucester and some other border villages at once. In that case he might leave the outlying farms alone as the news of the burning of these would reach the settlements and put them on their guard, and he knows, of course, that if he succeeds there he can eat you all up at his leisure. The attack upon Brent's place looks as if he meant to make a clean sweep down, Mr. Welch said. Well, the hunter continued thoughtfully. I don't know as I seize it in that light. Brent's place was a long way from any other. He might have wished to give his band a taste of blood and so raise their spirits, and he might reasonably conclude that not would be known about it for days, perhaps weeks to come. Then again the attack might have been made by some straggling party without orders. It's a dubious question. You've got four hands here, I think, and yourself. I have seen your wife shoot pretty straight with a rifle, so she can count as one. And as this young in here has a good eye, too, with his shooting iron that makes six guns. Your place is a strong one and you could beat off any straggling party. My idea is that War Eagle, who knows pretty well that the place would make a stout fight, won't waste his time by making a regular attack upon it. You might hold out for twenty-four hours. The clearing is open and there ain't no shelter to be had. He would be sure to lose a sight of men, and this would be a bad beginning, and would discourage his warriors greatly. No, I reckon War Eagle will leave you alone for the present. Maybe he will send a scout to see whether you are prepared. It's as likely as not that one is spying at us somewhere among the trees now. I should lose no time in driving in the animals and getting well in shelter. When they see you are prepared, they will leave you alone, at least for the present. Afterward there's no saying. That will depend on how they get on at the settlements. If they succeed there and get lots of booty and plenty of scouts, they may march back without touching you. They will be in a hurry to get to their villages and have their feasts and dancing. If they're beaten off at the settlements, I reckon they will pay you a visit for sure. They won't go back without scouts. They will be savage-like and won't mind losing some men for the sake of having something to brag about when they get back. And now, Master Welch, I must be going on. For I want to take the news down to the settlements before War Eagle gets there. And he may be ahead of me now, for all I know. I don't give you no advice as to what you had best do. You can judge the circumstances as well as I can. When I have been to the settlements and put them on their guard, maybe I shall be coming back again and, in that case, you know Jack Pearson's rifle is at your disposal. You may as well tote this stag up to the house. You won't be doing much hunting just for the present, and the meat may come in handy. The stag was landed, and a minute later the canoe shot away from shore under the steady stroke of the hunter's powerful arms. Mr. Welch at once threw the stag over his shoulders and, accompanied by Harold, strode away toward the house. On reaching it he threw down the stag at the door, seized a rope which hung against the wall and the sounds of a large bell rung in quick, sharp strokes. Summoned the hands from the fields. The sound of the woodman's axe ceased at once, and the shouts of the men as they drove the cattle toward the house rose on the still air. What is the matter, William? Mrs. Welch asked as she ran from the house. I have bad news, my dear. The Indians are out again, and I fear we may have trouble before us. We must hope that they will not come in this direction, but must be prepared for the worst. Wait till I see all the hands and beasts in the stockade, and then we can talk the matter over quietly. In a few minutes the hands arrived, driving before them the horses and cattle. What is it, boss? they asked. Was that the alarm bell, sure enough? The Indians are out again, Mr. Welch said, and in force. They have massacred the brints and are making toward the settlements. They may come this way, or they may not. At any rate, we must be prepared for them. Get the beasts into the sheds, and then you all take sides and set to work to cut down that patch of corn, which is high enough to give them shelter. There's nothing else which will cover them within a hundred yards of the house. Of course, you will take your rifles with you and keep a sharp lookout, but they will have heard the bell if they are in the neighborhood, and will guess that we are on the alert. So they're not likely to attempt a surprise. Shut one of the gates and leave the other a jar with the bar handy to put up in case you have to make a run for it. Harold will go up to the lookout while you are at work. Having seen that all was attended to Mr. Welch went into the house where his wife was going about her work as usual. Pale, but quiet and resolute. Now, Jane, he said, sit down, and I will tell you exactly how matters stand as far as Pearson, who brought the news, has told me. Then you shall decide as to the course we had better take. After he had told her all that Pearson had said, and the reasons for and against expecting an early attack, he went on. Now, it remains for you, my dear, to decide whether we shall stay and defend the place till the last against any attack that may be made, or whether we shall at once embark in the scow and make our way down to the settlements. What do you think, William? his wife asked. I scarcely know myself, he answered. But if I had quite my own way I should send you and Nelly down to the settlements in the scow and fight it out here with the hands. You certainly will not have your own way in that, his wife said. If you go, of course I go. If you stay, I stay. I would a thousand times rather go through a siege here and risk the worst than go down to Gloucester and have the frightful anxiety of not knowing what was happening here. Besides, it is very possible, as you say, that the Indians may attack the settlement itself. Many of the people there have had no experience in Indian War, and the red skins are likely to be far more successful in their surprise there than they would be here. If we go, we should have to leave our house, our barns, our stacks, and our animals to the mercy of the savages. Your capital is pretty nearly all embarked here now, and the loss of all this would be ruined to us. At any rate, William, I am ready to stay here and to risk what may come if you are. A life on the frontier is necessarily a life of danger, and if we are to abandon everything and to have to commence life afresh every time the Indians go on the war path, we had better give it up at once and return to Massachusetts. Very well, my dear, her husband said gravely. You are a true frontiersman's wife. You have chosen, as I should have done. It is a choice of evils, but God has blessed and protected us since we came out into the wilderness. We will trust and confide in him now. At any rate, he went on more cheerfully. There is no fear of the enemy starving us out. We got in our store of provisions only a fortnight since, and have enough of everything for a three month siege. There is no fear of our well-failing us, and as for ammunition, we have abundance. Seeing how Harold was using powder and ball, I had an extra supply when the stores came in the other day. There is plenty of corn in the barn for the animals for months, and I will have the corn which the men are cutting brought in as a supply of food for the cows. It will be useful for another purpose, too. We will keep a heap of it soaked with water and we'll cover the shingles with it in case of attack. It will effectually quench their fire arrows. The day passed off without the slightest alarm, and by nightfall the patch of corn was cleared away and an uninterrupted view of the ground for the distance of a hundred yards from the house was afforded. When night fell, two out of the four dogs belonging to the farm were fastened out in the open at a distance of from seventy to eighty yards of the house, the others being retained within the stockade. The garrison was divided into three watches, two men being on the alert at a time, relieving each other every three hours. Mr. Welch took Harold as his companion on the watch. The boy was greatly excited at the prospect of a struggle. He had often read of the desperate fights between the frontier settlers and the Indians, and had longed to take a share in the adventurous work. He could scarcely believe that the time had come and that he was really a sharer in what might be a desperate struggle. The first watch was set at nine, and at twelve Mr. Welch and Harold came on duty. The men they relieved reported that all was silent in the woods, and that they had heard no suspicious cries of any kind. When the men had returned to their room, Mr. Welch told Harold that he should take a turn round the stockade and visit the dogs. Harold was to keep watch at the gate, to close it after he went out, to put up the bar, and to stand beside it ready to open it instantly if called upon. Then the farmer stepped out into the darkness and treading noiselessly at once disappeared from Harold's sight. The latter closed the gate, replaced the heavy bar, and stood with one hand on this and the other holding his rifle listening intently. Once he thought he heard a low growling from one of the dogs, but this presently ceased and all was quiet again. The gate was a solid one, formed of strong timbers placed that a few inches apart and bolted to horizontal bars. Presently he felt the gate upon which his hand rested quiver, as if pressure was applied from without. His first impulse was to say, Is that you? But Mr. Welch had told him that he would give a low whistle as he approached the gate. He therefore stood quiet, with his whole attention absorbed in listening. Without making the least stir he peered through the bars and made out two dark figures behind them. After once or twice shaking the gate, one took his place against it and the other sprang upon his shoulders. Harold looked up and saw a man's head appear against the sky, dim as was the light he could see that it was no European headgear, a long feather or two projecting from it. In an instant he leveled his rifle and fired. There was a heavy fall and then all was silent. Harold again peered through the bars. The second figure had disappeared and a black mass lay at the foot of the gate. In an instant the men came running from the house, rifles in hand. What is it they exclaimed? Where is Mr. Welch? He went out to scout round the house, leaving me at the gate, Harold said. Two men I think Indians came up. One was getting over the gate when I shot him. I think he is lying outside. The other has disappeared. We must get the master in, one of the men said. He is probably keeping away not knowing what has happened. Mr. Welch, he shouted. It is all safe here. So far as we know, we are all on the lookout to cover you as you come up. Immediately a whistle was heard close to the gate. This was cautiously opened a few inches and was closed and barred directly after Mr. Welch entered. Harold told him what had happened. I thought it was something of the sort. I heard wolf growl and felt sure that it was not at me. I threw myself down and crept up to him and found him shot through the heart with an Indian arrow. I was crawling back to the house when I heard Harold's shot. Then I waited to see if it was followed by the war hoop which the Redskins would have raised at once on finding that they were discovered had they been about to attack in force. Seeing that all was quiet, I conjectured that it was probably an attempt on the part of a spy to discover if we were upon the alert. Then I heard your call and it once came on. I do not expect any attack tonight now, as these fellows must have been alone, but we will all keep watch till the morning. You have done very well, Harold, and have shown yourself a keen watchman. It is fortunate that you had the presence of mind neither to stir nor to call out when you first heard them, for had you done so you would probably have got an arrow between your ribs as poor Wolf has done. When it was daylight and the gate was opened, the body of an Indian was seen lying without. A small mark on his forehead showed where Harold's bullet had entered, death being instantaneous. His war paint and the embroidery of his leggings showed him at once to be an Iroquois. Beside him lay his bow with an arrow which had evidently been fitted to the string for instant work. Harold shuddered when he saw it and congratulated himself on having stood perfectly quiet. A grave was dug a short distance away, the Indian was buried, and the household proceeded about their work. The day as was usual in households in America was begun with prayer, and the supplications of Mr. Welch for the protection of God over the household were warm and earnest. The men proceeded to feed the animals. These were then turned out of the enclosure, one of the party being always on watch in the little tower which they had erected for that purpose, some ten or twelve feet above the roof of the house. From this spot a view was obtainable right over the clearing to the forest which surrounded it on three sides. The other hands proceeded to cut down more of the corn so as to extend the level space around the house. Grace Woodward True to the Old Flag by G. A. Henty Chapter 2 An Indian Raid That day and the next passed quietly. The first night the man who was on watch up to midnight remarked to Mr. Welch when he relieved him that it seemed to him that there were noises in the air. What sort of noise is Jackson? Calls of night birds or animals? If so, the Indians are probably around us. No, the man said. All is still round here, but I seem to feel the noise rather than hear it. I should say that it was firing very many miles off. The night is perfectly still and the sound of a gun would be heard a long way. I cannot say that I have heard a gun. It is rather a tremble in the air than a sound. When the man they had relieved had gone down and all was still again, Mr. Welch and Harold stood listening intently. Jackson was right, the farmer said. There is something in the air. I can feel it rather than hear it. It is a sort of murmur no louder than a whisper. Do you hear it, Harold? I seem to hear something, Harold said. It might be the sound of the sea a very long way off, just as one can hear it many miles from the coast on a still night at home. What do you think it is? If it is not fancy, Mr. Welch replied, and I do not think that we should all be deceived. It is an attack upon Gloucester. But Gloucester is thirty five miles away, Harold answered. It is, Mr. Welch replied. But on so still a night as this sounds can be heard from an immense distance. If it is not this, I cannot say what it is. Upon the following night, just as Mr. Welch's watch was at an end, a low whistle was heard near the gate. Who is there, Mr. Welch once challenged? Jack Pearson, and the sooner you open the gate the better. There's no saying where these red devils may be lying round. Harold and the farmer instantly ran down and opened the gate. I should advise you to stop down here, the hunter said as they replaced the bars. If you did not hear me, you certainly would not hear the redskins, and they'd all be over the palisade before you had time to fire a shot. I'm glad to see you safe, for I was badly scared lest I should find nothing but a heap of ashes here. The next two men now turned out, and Mr. Welch led his visitor into the house and struck a light. Hello, Pearson, you must have been in a skirmish, he said, seeing that the hunter's head was bound up with a bloodstained bandage. It was all that, Pearson said, and worse. I went down to Gloucester and told them what I had heard. But the darned fools took it as quiet as if all King George's troops with fixed bayonets had been camped round them. The council got together and plavoured for an hour, and concluded that there was no chance whatever of the Iroquois venturing to attack such a powerful place as Gloucester. I told them that the redskins would go over their stockade at the squirrel's jump, and that as War Eagle alone had at least one hundred fifty braves, while there weren't more than fifty able-bodied men in Gloucester and all the farms round it, things would go bad with them if they didn't mind. But, bless you, they knew more than I did about it. Most of them had moved from the east and had never seen an engine in his war-paint. Gloucester had never been attacked since it was founded nine, ten years ago, and they didn't see no reason why it should be attacked now. There was a few old frontiersmen like myself among them who did their best to stir them up, but it was no manner of good. When the council was over we put our heads together and just went through the township talking to the women, and we hadn't much difficulty in getting up such a skier among them that before nightfall every one of them in the farms round made their husbands move into the stockade of the village. When the night passed off quietly, most of the men were just as savage with us as if it had been a false alarm altogether. I pointed out that it was not because War Eagle had left them alone that night that he was bound to do so the next night, or any night after. But in spite of the women, they would have started out to their farms the first thing in the morning. If a man hadn't come in with the news that the Carter's farm had been burned and the whole of the people killed and scalped. As Carter's farm lay only about fifteen miles off, this gave him a scare. And they were as ready now to believe in the engines as I had tried to make them the night before. Then they asked us old hands to take the lead and promised to do what we told them. But when it came to it, their promises were not worth the breath they had spent upon them. There were eight or ten houses outside the stockade, and of course we wanted these pulled down, but they wouldn't hear of it. How some ever we got them to work to strengthen the stockades, to make loopholes in the houses near them, to put up barricades from house to house, and to prepare generally for a fight. We divided into three watches. Well, just as I expected, about eleven o'clock at night the engines attacked. Our watch might just as well have been asleep for any good they did, for it was not till the Redskins had crept up to the stockade all round and opened fire between the timbers on them that they knew they were near. Now there was justice to say that they fought stiff enough then, and for four hours they held the line of houses. Every Redskins who climbed the stockade fell dead inside it. Four fires had been lighted directly after they attacked to enable us to keep them from scaling the stockade, but they showed us to the enemy, of course. The Redskins took possession of the houses which we had wanted to pull down, and precious hot they made it for us. Then they shot such showers of burning arrows into the village that half of the houses were soon alight. We tried to get our men to sally out and to hold the line of the stockade when we might have beaten them off if all the village had been burned down, but it were no manner of good. Each man wanted to stick to his wife and family till the last, as the flames went up every man who showed himself was shot down, and when it last more than half our number had gone under, the Redskins brought up faggots, piled them against the stockade outside, and then the whole tribe came bounding over. Our rifles were emptied, for we couldn't get the men to hold their fire, but some of us chaps as knew what was coming gave the Redskins a volley as they poured in. I don't know much has happened after that. Jack Robbins and Bill Shooter, who were old pals of mine, and me made up our minds what to do. And we made a rush for a small gate that there was in the stockade, just opposite where the engines came in. We got through safe enough, but they had left men all round. Jack Robbins, he was shot dead. Bill and I kept straight on. We had a grapple with some of the Redskins. Two or three of them went down and Bill and I got through and had a race for it till we got fairly into the forest. Bill had a ball in the shoulder and I had a clip across the head with a tomahawk. We had a council and Bill went off to warn some of the other settlements and I concluded to take to the water and paddle back to you, not knowing whether I should find that the Redskins had been before me. I thought anyway that I might stop your going down to Gloucester and that if there was a fight you would be none the worse for an extra rifle. Mr. Welch told the hunter of the visit of the two Indian spies two nights before. Well, the hunter said, I reckon for the present you are not likely to be disturbed. The engines have taken a pile of booty and something like 200 scalps, counting the women and children. And they moved off at daybreak this morning in the direction of Tottenham, which I reckon they'll attack tonight. House of Everville has gone up to Tawarnham. And after the sack of Gloucester, the people of Tottenham won't be caught napping. And there are two or three old frontiersmen who have settled down there. And War Eagle will get a hot reception. If he tries it, as far as his band is concerned, you're safe for some days. The only fear is that some others of the tribe, hurrying up at hearing of his success may take this place as they go past. And now I guess I'll take a few hours sleep. I haven't closed an eye for the last two nights. A week passed quietly. Pearson, after remaining two days, again went down the lake to gather news, and returned a day later with the intelligence that almost all the settlements had been deserted by their inhabitants. The Indians were out in great strength, and had attacked the settlers at many points along the frontier, committing frightful devastations. Still another week passed. And Mr. Welch began to hope that his little clearing had been overlooked and forgotten by the Indians. The hands now went about their work as usual, but always carried arms with them, while one was constantly stationed on the watchtower. Harold resumed his fishing. Never, however, going out of sight of the house. Sometimes he took with him little nally welch. It being considered that she was as safe in the canoe as she was in the house, especially as the boat was always in sight. And the way up from the landing to the house was under cover of the rifles of the defenders. So that even in case of an attack, they would probably be able to make their way back. One afternoon they had been out together for two or three hours. Everything looked as quiet and peaceable as usual. The hands were in the fields near the house, a few of the cows grazing close to the gate. Harold had been successful in his fishing and had obtained as many fish as he could carry. He stepped out from the canoe, helped nally to land, slung his rifle across his back, and picked up the fish, which were strong on a wire passed through their gills. He had made but a few steps when a yell arose, so loud and terrible that for a moment his heart seemed to stop beating. Then from the cornfields leaped up a hundred dark figures. Then came the sharp crack of rifles and two of the hands dashed down at full speed toward the house. One had fallen. The fourth man was in the watchtower. The surprise had been complete. The Indians had made their way like snakes through the long corn, whose waving had been unperceived by the sentinel, who was dozing at his post half asleep in the heat of the sun. Harold saw in a moment that it was too late for him to regain the house. The Redskins were already nearer to it than he was. Now nally into the boat again quick, he said, we must keep out of the way till it's all over. Nally was about 12 years old, and her life in the woods had given her a courage and quickness beyond her years. Without wasting a moment on cries or lamentations, she sprang back into the canoe. Harold took his place beside her, and the light craft darted rapidly out into the lake. Not until he was some three or four hundred yards from the shore did Harold pause to look around. Then, when he felt he was out of gunshot distance, he ceased paddling. The fight was raging now round the house. From loopholes and turrets, the white puffs of smoke darted angrily out. The fire had not been ineffectual, for several dark forms could be seen lying around the stockade. And the bulk of the Indians foiled in their attempt to carry the place that a rush had taken shelter in the corn, and kept up a scattering fire around the house, broken only on the side facing the lake, where there was no growing crop to afford them shelter. They're all right now, Harold said cheerfully. Do not be anxious, Nellie. They will beat them off. Pearson is a host in himself. I expect he must have been lying down when the attack was made. I know he was scouting round the house all night. If he had been on the watch, those fellows would never have succeeded in creeping up so close, unobserved. I wish we were inside, Nellie said, speaking for the first time. If I were only with them, I should not mind. I'm sure I wish we were, Harold agreed. It is too hard being useless out here when such a splendid fight is going on. Oh, they have their eyes on us, he exclaimed, as a puff of smoke burst out from some bushes near the shore, and a ball came skipping along on the surface of the water, sinking, however, before it reached them. Those Indian muskets are no good, Harold said contemptuously, and the trade powder the Indians get is very poor stuff. But I think that they are well within range of my rifle. The weapon which Harold carried was an English rifle of very perfect make and finish, which his father had given him on parting. Now, he said, you paddle the canoe, a few strokes nearer the shore, Nellie. We shall still be beyond the range of that fellow. He will fire again, and I shall see exactly where he is lying. Nellie, who was efficient in the management of a canoe, took the paddle and dipping it in the water, the boat moved slowly toward the shore. Harold sat with his rifle across his knees, looking intently over the bow of the boat toward the bush from which the shot had come. That's near enough, Nellie, he said. The girl stopped paddling and the hidden foe, seeing that they did not mean to come nearer the shore, again fired. Harold's rifle was in an instant against his shoulder. He sat immovable for a moment and then fired. Instantly a dark figure sprang from the bush, staggered a few steps up the slope, and then fell headlong. That was a pretty good shot, Harold said. Your father told me when I saw a stag's horns above a bush to fire about two feet behind them and eighteen inches lower. I fired a foot below the flash, and I expect I hit him through the body. I had the sight at three hundred yards and fired a little above it. Now, Nellie, paddle out again. See, he said, there is a shawl waving from the top of the tower. Put your hat on the paddle and wave it. What are you thinking of doing, Harold? The girl asked presently. That is just what I have been asking myself for the last ten minutes, Harold replied. It is quite clear that as long as the siege is kept up we cannot get back again, and there's no saying how long it may last. The first thing is, what chance is there of there pursuing us? Are there any other canoes on the lake within a short distance? They have won at break-weights, the girl said, four miles off. But look, there is Pearson's canoe lying by the shore. So there is, Harold exclaimed. I never thought of that. I expect the Indians have not noticed it. The bank is rather high where it is lying. There should have find it sooner or later. I think, Nellie, the best plan would be to paddle back again so as to be within the range of my rifle while still beyond the reach of theirs. I think I can keep them from using the boat until it's dark. But after it is dark, Harold? Well, then, we must paddle out into the lake so as to be well out of sight. When it gets quite dark, we can paddle in again and sleep safely anywhere a mile or two from the house. An hour passed without change. Then Nellie said, There is a movement in the bushes near the canoe. Presently an arm was extended and proceeded to haul the canoe toward the shore by its head rope. As it touched the bank, an Indian rose from the bushes and was about to step in. While a number of puffs of smoke burst out along the shore and the bullets skipped over the water toward the canoe, one of them striking it with sufficient force to penetrate the thin bark a few inches above the water's edge. Harold had not moved. But as the savage stepped into the canoe, he fired, and the Indian fell heavily into the water, upsetting the canoe as he did so. A yell of rage broke from his comrades. I don't think they will try that game again as long as it is daylight, Harold said. Paddle a little further out again, Nellie. If that bullet had hit you, it would have given you a nasty blow, though I don't think it would have penetrated. Still, we may as well avoid accidents. After another hour passed, the fire round the house ceased. Do you think the Indians have gone away? Nellie asked. I'm afraid there is no chance of that, Harold said. I expect they're going to wait till night and then try again. They're not fond of losing men. And Pearson and your father are not likely to miss anything that comes within their range as long as daylight lasts. But after dark, Harold? Oh, they will try all sorts of tricks. But Pearson is up to them all. Don't you worry about them, dear? The hours passed slowly away until at last the sun sank, and the darkness came on rapidly. So long as he could see the canoe which just floated above the water's edge, Harold maintained his position. Then taking one paddle, while Nellie handled the other, he sent the boat flying away from the shore out into the lake. For a quarter of an hour they paddled straight out. By this time the outline of the shore could be but dimly perceived. Harold doubted whether it would be possible to see the boat from shore. But in order to throw the Indians off the scent, should this be the case, he turned the boat's head to the south and paddled swiftly until it was perfectly dark. I expect they saw us turn south, he said to Nellie. The Redskins have wonderful eyes, so if they pursue it all, they will do it in that direction. No human being unless he borrowed the eyes of an owl could see us now. So we will turn and paddle the other way. For two hours they rode in this direction. We can go into shore now, Harold said at last. We must be seven or eight miles beyond the house. The distance to the shore was longer than they expected. For they had only the light of the stars to guide them, and neither had any experience in night traveling. They had made much further out into the lake than they had intended. At length the dark line of trees rose in front of them. And in a few minutes the canoe lay alongside the bank, and its late occupants were stretched on a soft layer of moss and fallen leaves. What are we going to do tomorrow about eating? Nellie asked. There are four or five good-sized fish in the bottom of the canoe, Harold replied. Fortunately we caught more than I could carry, and I intended to make a second trip from the house for these. I am afraid we shall not be able to cook them, for the Indians can see smoke any distance. If the worst comes to the worst, we must eat them raw. But we are sure to find some berries in the wood tomorrow. Now, dear, you had better go to sleep as fast as you can. But first let us kneel down and pray God to protect us and your father and mother. The boy and girl knelt in the darkness and said their simple prayers. Then they lay down, and Harold was pleased to hear in a few minutes the steady breathing which told him that his cousin was asleep. It was a long time before he followed her example. During the day he had kept up a brave front and had endeavored to make the best of their position. But now that he was alone he felt the full weight of the responsibility of guiding his companion through the extreme danger which threatened them both. He felt sure that the Indians would prolong the siege for some time, as they would be sure that no reinforcements could possibly arrive in aid of the garrison. Moreover, he by no means felt so sure as he had pretended to his companion of the power of the defenders of the house to maintain a successful resistance to so large a number of their savage foes. In the daylight he felt certain they could beat them off. But darkness neutralizes the effect both of superior arms and better marksmanship. It was nearly midnight before he lay down with the determination to sleep. But scarcely had he done so when he was aroused by an outburst of distant firing. Although six or seven miles from the scene of the encounter, the sound of each discharge came distinct to the ear along the smooth surface of the lake. And he could even hear mingled with the musket-refire the faint yells of the Indians. For hours it seemed to him as he sat listening to the distant contest, and then he unconsciously to himself, dosed off to sleep, and awoke with a start to find Nelly sitting up beside him and the sun streaming down through the boughs. He started to his feet. Bless me, he exclaimed. I did not know that I had been asleep. It seems but an instant ago that I was listening. And here he checked himself. That is, that I was wide awake. And here we are in broad daylight. Harold's first care was to examine the position of the canoe. And he found that fortunately it had touched the shore at a spot where the boughs of the trees overhead drooped into the water beyond it, so that it could not be seen by anyone passing along the lake. This was the more fortunate as he saw some three miles away a canoe with three figures on board. For a long distance on either side, the boughs of the trees drooped into the water with only an opening here and there such as that through which the boat had passed the night before. We must be moving, Nelly. Here are the marks where we scrambled up the bank last night. If the Indians take it into their heads to search the shore both ways, as likely enough they may do, they will be sure to see them. In the first place, let us gather a stock of berries, and then we will get into the boat again and paddle along under this arcade of boughs till we get to some place where we can land without leaving marks of our feet. If the Indians find the place where we landed here, they will suppose that we went off again before daylight. For some time they rambled in the woods and succeeded in gathering a store of berries and wild fruit. Upon these Nelly made her breakfast. But Harold's appetite was sufficiently ravenous to enable him to fall to upon the fish, which he declared were not so bad after all. Then they took their places in the canoe again and paddled on for nearly a mile. See, Harold, Nelly exclaimed as she got a glimpse through the boughs into the lake. There is another canoe. They must have got the brave weight boat. We passed their place coming here, you know. I wonder what has happened there? What do you think is best to do, Nelly? Harold asked. Your opinion is just as good as mine about it. Shall we leave our canoe behind, land and take to the woods, or shall we stop quietly in the canoe and shelter here? Or shall we take to the lake and trust to our speed to get away? In which case, you know, if they should come up, I could pick them off with my gun before they got within reach. I don't think that would do, the girl said, shaking her head. You shoot very well. But it is not an easy thing to hit a moving object if you are not accustomed to it. And they paddle so fast that if you miss them once, they would be close alongside. At any rate, we should be within reach of their guns before you could load again. They would be sure to catch us. For although we might paddle nearly as fast for a time, they would certainly tire us out. Then as to waiting here in the canoe, if they came along on foot looking for us, we should be in their power. It is dreadful to think of taking to the woods with Indians all about, but I really think that would be our safest plan. I think so too, Nellie, if we can manage to do it without leaving a track. We must not go much further, for the trees are getting thinner ahead, and we should be seen by the canoes. 50 yards further, Harold stopped paddling. Here's just the place, Nellie. At this point, a little stream of three or four feet wide emerged into the lake. Harold directed the boat's head toward it. The water in the stream was but a few inches deep. Now, Nellie, he said, we must step out into the water and walk up it as far as we can go. It will puzzle even the sharpest red skin to find our track then. They stepped into the water, Harold taking the head rope of the canoe and towing the light boat, which when empty did not draw more than two inches of water behind him. He directed Nellie to be most careful as she walked not to touch any of the bushes, which at times nearly met across the stream. A broken twig or withered leaf would be quite enough to tell the Indians that we came along this way, he said. Where the bushes are thick, you must manage to crawl under them. Never mind about getting wet. You will soon dry again. Slowly and cautiously, they made their way up the stream for nearly a mile. It had for some distance been narrowing rapidly, being only fed by little reels from the surrounding swampland. Harold had so far looked in vain for some spot where they could land without leaving marks of their feet. Presently they came to a place where a great tree had fallen across the stream. This will do, Nellie, Harold said. Now, above all things, you must be careful not to break off any of the moss or bark. You had better take your shoes off. Then I will lift you on to the trunk, and you can walk along it without leaving a mark. It was hard work for Nellie to take off her drenched boots, but she managed at last. Harold lifted her on to the trunk and said, walk along as far as you can and get down as lightly as possible on to a firm piece of ground. It rises rapidly here and I expect a dry soil it is where the upper end of the tree lies. How are you going to get out, Harold? I can swing myself up by that projecting route. Before proceeding to do so, Harold raised one end of the canoe and placed it on the trunk of the tree. Then having previously taken off his shoes, he swung himself on to the trunk. Hauling up the light-bark canoe and taking special pains that it did not grate upon the trunk, he placed it on his head and followed Nellie along the tree. He found as he had expected that the ground upon which the upper end lay was firm and dry. He stepped down with great care and was pleased to see as he walked forward that no trace of a foot mark was left. Be careful, Nellie, he exclaimed when he joined her not to tread on a stick or disturb a fallen leaf with your foot and above all to avoid breaking the smallest twig as you pass. Choose the most open ground, as that is the hardest. In about a hundred yards they came upon a large clump of bushes. Now, Nellie, raise those lower bows as gently and as carefully as you can. I will push the canoe under. I don't think the sharpest Indian will be able to take up our track now. Very carefully, the canoe was stowed away. And when the bows were allowed to fall in their natural position, it was completely hidden from sight to every passerby. Haul took up the fish. Nellie had filled her apron with her berries and carrying their shoes, for they agreed that it would be safer not to put them on. They started on their journey through the deep forest. End Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of True to the Old Flag. This is a LibriFox recording. All LibriFox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriFox.org. Chapter 3. The Red Skin Attack. Mr. Welch was with the men two or three hundred yards away from the house when the Indians suddenly sprang out and opened fire. One of the men fell beside him. The farmers stooped to lift him but saw that he was shot through the head. Then he ran with full speed toward the house, shouting to the hands to make straight for the gate disregarding the cattle. Several of these, however, alarmed at the sudden outburst of fire and the yells of the Indians made of their own accord for the stables as their master rushed up at full speed. The Indians were about 50 or 60 yards behind when Mr. Welch reached his gate. They had all emptied their pieces and after the first folly no shots had been fired, save one by the watchman on the lookout. Then came the crack of Pearson's rifle just as Mr. Welch shut the gate and laid the bar in its place. Several spare guns had been placed in the upper chambers and three reports rang out together for Mrs. Welch had run upstairs at the first alarm to take her part in the defense. In another minute the whole party, now six at an all, were gathered in the upper room. Where are Nelly and Harold, Mr. Welch exclaimed? I saw the canoe close to the shore just before the Indians opened fire at the watchman's answer. You must have been asleep, Pearson said savagely. Where were your eyes to let them redskins crawl up through the corn without seeing them? With such a crowd of them the corn must have been a wave as if it was blowing a gale. You ought to have a bullet in your ugly carcass instead of its being in your mates out there. While this conversation was going on, no one had been idle. Each took up his station at a loop hole and several shots were fired whenever the movement of a blade of corn showed the lurking place of an Indian. The instant the gate had been closed, War Eagle had called his men back to shelter, for he saw that all chance of a surprise was now over, and it was contrary to all redskins' strategy to remain for one moment unnecessarily exposed to the rifles of the whites. The farmer and his wife had rushed at once up into the lookout as the Indians drew off, and to their joy saw the canoe darting away from the shore. They are safe for the present, thank God, Mr. Welch said. It is providential indeed that they had not come a little farther from the shore when the redskins broke out. Nothing could have saved them had they fairly started for the house. What will they do, William? asked his wife anxiously. I cannot tell you, my dear. I do not know what I should do myself under the circumstances. However, the boy has got a cool head on his shoulder, and you need not be anxious for the present. Now let us join the others. Our first duty is to take our share in the defense of the house. The young ones are in the hands of God. We can do nothing for them. Well, Pearson asked, looking around from his loophole as the farmer and his wife descended into the room, which was a low garret extending over the whole of the house. Did you see the canoe? Yes, it has got safely away, William Welch said, but what the lad will do now is more than I can say. Pearson placed his rifle against the wall. Now keep your eyes skinned, he said to the three farmhands. One of yours done mischief enough this morning already, and you'll get your heart raised as sure as you're born unless you look out sharp. Now, he went on, turning to the Welch's. Let us go down and talk this matter over. The engines may keep on firing, but I don't think they'll show in the open again as long as it's light enough for us to draw a bead on them. Yes, he went on as he looked through a loophole in a lower story over the lake. There they are, just out of range. What do you think they will do? The hunter was silent for a minute. It ain't an easy thing to say what they ought to do, much less what they will do. It ain't a good outlook anyway, and I don't know what I should do myself. The whole of the woods on this side of the lake are full of the darn red critters. There's a hundred eyes on that canoe now, and go where they will, they'll be watched. But why should they not cross the lake and land on the other side, Mr. Welch said? If you and I were in that canoe, the hunter answered, that's about what we should do, but not to say that it's a long row for them. They two youngins would never get across. The engines would have them before they had been gone an hour. There's my canoe lying under the bushes. She'd carry four and would go three feet to their two. I had forgotten about that, William Welch said, and then added after a pause. The Indians may not find it. You needn't hope that, the hunter answered. They have found it long before this. I don't want to put you out of heart, but I tell you, you'll see them on the water before many minutes have passed. Then they are lost, Mrs. Welch said, sinking down in her chair and bursting into tears. They are in God's hands, ma'am, the hunter said, and it's no use trying to deceive you. Would it be of any use, William Welch asked after a pause for me to offer the red skins that my wife and I will go out and put ourselves in their hands if they will let the canoe go off without pursuit? Not it, the hunter replied decidedly. You would be throwing away your own lives without saving theirs. Not to mention, although that doesn't matter a straw, the lies of the rest of us here, it will be as much as we can do when they attack us in earnest to hold this place with six guns and with only four the chance would be worth nothing. But that's neither here nor there. You wouldn't save the youngens if you gave yourselves up. You can't trust the word of an engine on the warpath and if they went so far as not to kill them, they would carry them off. And after all, I ain't sure as death ain't better for them than to be brought up as engines. There, he said, stopping suddenly as a report of a musket sounded at some little distance off. The engines are trying their range against them. Let's go up to the lookout. The little tower had a thick parapet of logs, some three feet high, and crouching behind this they watched the canoe. He's come in near and sure, and the girl has got the paddle, person muttered. What's he doing now? A puff of smoke was seen to rise near the border of the lake. Then came the sharp crack of Harold's rifle. They saw an Indian spring from the bushes and fall dead. Well done, young in person explained. I told you he's got his head screwed on right way. He's keeping just out of range of their guns, and that piece of his can carry twice as far as theirs. I reckon he's thought of the canoe and means to keep him from using it. I begin to think, Mr Welch, that there's a chance for him yet. Now let's talk a little to the red devils in the corn. For some little time, person and William Welch turned their attention to the Indians while the mother sat with her eyes fixed upon the canoe. He's coming closer again, she exclaimed, presently. He's watching the canoe sure enough, that person said. Then came the volley along the bushes on the shore, and they saw an Indian rise to his feet. That's just where she lies, person explained. He's getting into it. There, well done, young in. The sudden disappearance of the Indian and the vengeful yell of the hidden foe told of the failure of the attempt. I think they're safe now till nightfall. The Indians won't care about putting themselves within range of that air rifle again. Gradually the fire the Indians ceased, and the defenders were able to leave the loopholes. Two of the men went down and fastened up the cattle, which were still standing loose in the yard, inside the stockade. The other set to prepare a meal for Mrs Welch could not take her eyes off the canoe. The afternoon seemed of interminable length. Not a shot was fired. The men, after taking their dinner, were occupied in bringing some great tubs on the upper story and filling them to the brim with water from the well. This story projected two feet beyond the one below it, having been built in order that in case of attack, the defenders might be able to fire down upon any foe who might cross the stockade and attack the house itself. The floorboards over the projecting portion were all removable. The men brought a quantity of the newly cut corn to the top of the house, first stretching it with water. The sun sank and as dusk was coming on, the anxious watchers saw the canoe paddle out far into the lake. An old frontiersman couldn't do better, person explained. He's kept them out of the canoes as long as daylight lasted. Now he is determined to paddle away and is making down the lake. He went on presently. It's a pity he turned so soon as they can see the course he's taken. They watched until it was completely dark, but before the light quite faded, they saw another canoe put out from shore and start in the direction taken by the fugitives. Will they catch them, do you think, Mrs. Welch asks? No man, person said confidently. The boys got sense enough to have changed his course after it gets dark, though whether he'll make for sure or go out toward the other side is more than I can say. You see they'll know that the engines are all along this side of the lake, but then on the other hand they'll be anxious about us and they'll want to keep close at hand. Besides, the lad knows nothing of the other side. There may be engines there for odd he knows, and it's a scary thing for a young man to take to the forest, especially where the gallon is charged. They know saying what he'll do. And now we've got to look after ourselves. Don't let us think about them at present. The best thing is we can do for them, as well as for ourselves, is to hold this here place. If they live, they'll come back to it sooner or later and it'll be better for them to find it standing and you here to welcome them, then to get back to a heap of ruins and some dead bodies. When will the Redskins attack, do you think, the farmer asked? We may expect them any time now, the hunter answered. The engine's time of attack is generally just before dawn, but they know well enough they ain't likely to catch us asleep any time, and as they know exactly what they have got to do, they'll gain nothing by waiting. I wish we had a moon. If we had, we might keep them out of the stockade, but there is just as well as dark after all. For if the moon was up, the young ones would have no chance of getting away. The garrison now all took their places at the loopholes, having first carried the wet fodder to the roof and spread it over the shingles. There was nothing to do now but wait. The night was so dark that they could not see the outline of the stockade. Presently a little spark shot through the air, followed by a score of others. Mr. Welch had taken his post on the tower and he saw the arrows whizzing through the air, many of them falling on the roof. The dry grass dipped in resin, which was tied around the arrowheads, was instantly extinguished as the arrows fell upon the wet corn and a yell arose from the Indians. The farmer descended and told the others of the failure of the Indians' first attempt. That ear-dodge is a first-right Pearson said. We're safe from fire and that's the only thing we've got to be a-feared on. You'll see them up here in a few minutes. Everything was perfectly quiet. Once or twice the watchers thought that they could hear faint sounds but could not distinguish their direction. After half an hour's anxious waiting a terrible yell was heard from below and at the doors and windows of the lower rooms came the crashing blows of tomahawks. The boards had already been removed from the flooring above and the defenders opened a steady fire into the dark mass that they could faintly make out clustered around the windows and doors. At person's suggestions the bullets had been removed from the guns and heavy charges of buckshot have been substituted for them and yells of pain and surprise arose as they fired. A few shots were fired from below but a second discard from the spare guns completed the effect from the first volley. The dark mass broke up and in a few seconds all was quiet as before. Two hours passed and then slight sounds were heard. They've got the gate open I expect person said. Fire occasionally at that. If we don't hit them the flashes may show us what they're doing. It was just as he had expected. The first discharge was followed by a cry and by the momentary light they saw a number of dark figures pouring in through the gate. Seeing the concealment was no longer possible. The Indians opened a heavy fire around the house. Then came a crashing sound near the door. Just as I thought person said they're going to try to burn us out. For some time the noise continued as bundle after bundle of dried wood was strung down by the door. The garrison were silent. For as person said they could see nothing and a stray bullet might enter at the loopholes that they placed themselves there and the flashes of the guns would serve as marks for the Indians. Presently two or three faint lights were seen approaching. Now person said pick them off as they come up. You and I'll take the first man welch. You fire just to the right of the light I will fire to the left. He may be carrying the brand in either hand. They fired together and the brand was seen to drop to the ground. The same thing happened as the other two sparks of light approach. Then it was again quiet. Now a score of little lights flashed through the air. They're going to light the pile with their flaming arrows person said. War eagle is a good leader. Three or four of the arrows fell on the pile of dry wood. A moment later the flames crept up and the smoke of burning wood rolled up into the room above. A yell of triumph burst from the Indians. But this changed into one of wrath as those above emptied the contents of one of the great tubs of water onto the pile of wood below them. The flames were instantly extinguished. What will they do next Mrs. Welch asked. It's like enough Pearson replied that they'll give the job up all together. They've got plenty of plunder and scalps at the settlements and they're attacking us here in such force looks as if the hull of them were on their way back to their villages. If they could have took our scalps easy they would have done it. But war eagle ain't likely to risk losing a lot of men when he ain't certain of winning after all. He has done good work as it is and has quite enough to boast about when he gets back. If he were to lose a heap of his braves here it would spoil the success of his expedition. No, I think he will give it up now. He will be all the more anxious to catch the children Mrs. Welch said despondently. It can't be denied ma'am as he will do his best that way person answered. It all depends though on the boy. I wish I was with him in that canoe. How some ever I can't help thinking as he will circumvent him somehow. The night passed without any further attack. By turns half the garrison watched while the other lay down but there was little sleep taken by any. With the first gleam of daylight Mrs. Welch and her husband were on the lookout. There's two canoes out on the lake person said. They're paddling quietly which is which I can't say. As the light became brighter person pronounced positively that there were three men in one canoe and four in the other. I think they're all engines he said. They must have got another canoe somewhere along the lake. Well they've not caught the youngins yet. The boats are closing up to each other Mrs. Welch said. They're going to have a talk I reckon. Yes one of them is turning and going down the lake while the others going up. I'd give a heap to know where the youngins have got to. The day passed quietly an occasional shot toward the house showed that the Indians remained in the vicinity and indeed dark forms could be seen moving about in the distant parts of the clearing. Will it be possible the farmer as person one night again fell to go out and see if we can discover any traces of them? Worse than no use person said positively. We should just lose our hair without doing no good whatever. If the engines in these woods and I reckon all together there's a good many hundred of them can't find them. You may swear that we can't. That's just what they're hoping that we'll be fool enough to put ourselves outside the stockade. They'll lie close round all night and a weasel wouldn't creep through them. If I thought it was just a shout over chance of finding them youngins I'd risk it but there's no chance not a bit of it. A vigilant watch was again kept all night but all was still in quiet the next morning the Indians were still around them. Don't you fret man person said as he saw how pale and one Mrs Welch looked in the morning light you may bet your last shilling that they've not caught them. Why are you so sure Mrs Welch said they may be dead by this time? Not they ma'am I'm as certain as they're living and free as I am that I'm standing here. If they had caught them they'd just have brought them here and would have fixed up two posts just out of rifle range and would have tied them there and offered you the choice of giving up this place in your scalps or of seeing them tortured and burned under your eyes. That's their way. No, they ain't caught them alive nor they ain't caught them dead neither for if they had they'd have brought their scalps to a shone year. No, they've got away. Though it beats me to say how I've only got one fear and that is that they might come back before the engines have gone. Now I tell you what we had better do we better keep up a drop in fire all night and all day tomorrow and so on until the redskins have gone. If the youngings come back across the lake at night and all is quiet they'll think the engines have taken themselves off but if they hear firing still going on they'll know well enough that they're still around the house. William Welch at once agreed to this plan and every quarter of an hour or so all through the night a few shots were fired. The next morning no Indians could be seen and there was a cessation of the dropping shots which had before been kept up at the house. They may be in hiding first instead in the afternoon trying to tempt us out but I'm more inclined to think is how they've gone. I don't see a blade of that corn move I've had my eyes fixed on it for the last two hours. It are possible of course that they're there but I reckon not. I expect they've been waiting ever since they gave up the attack in hopes that the youngings would come back but now as they see that we're keeping up a fire to tell them that they're still around us they've given it up and gone. When it gets dark tonight I'll go out and scout round. At 10 o'clock at night person dropped lightly from the stock gate on the side at opposite to the gate as he knew that if the Indians were there this would be the point that they would be watching. Then crawling upon his stomach he made his way slowly down to the lake entering the water and stooping low he waited along the edge of the bushes for a distance of a mile. Then he left the water and struck into the forest. Every few minutes he could hear the discharge of the rifles at the house but as before no answering shots were heard. Trading very cautiously he made a wide detour and then came down again on the clearing at the farthest end from the lake where the Indians had been last seen moving about. All was still. Keeping among the trees and moving with great caution he made his way for a considerable distance along the edge of the clearing. Then he dropped on his hands and knees and entered the cornfield. And for two hours he crawled about quartering the ground like a dog in search of game. Everywhere he found lines where the Indians had crawled along to the edge nearest to the house but nowhere did he discover a sign of life. Then still taking great care he moved down toward the house and made a circuit of it a short distance outside the stockade. Then he rose to his feet. You may stop your shooting. He shouted the pesky rascals are gone. Then he walked openly up to the gate. It was opened at once by William Welch. Are you sure they have gone? He asked. Sure is gospel he answered. And they've been gone 24 hours at least. How do you know that? Easy enough. I found several of their cooking places in the woods. The brands were out and even under the ashes the ground was cold. So they must have been out for a long time. I could have walked straight onto the house then but I thought it's safer to make quite sure by searching everywhere for they might have moved deeper into the forest and left a few men on guard here in case the youngins should come back. But it ain't so. They've gone. And there ain't a living soul anywhere neither clearing. The youngins can come back now if they will safely enough. Before doing anything else the farmer assembled the party together in the living room and there solemnly offered up thanks to God for their deliverance from danger and implored his protection for the absent ones. When this was over he said to his wife, now Jane you had better go lie down and get a few hours of sleep. It's already two o'clock and there's no chance whatever of their returning tonight but I shall go down to the lake and wait till morning. Place candles in two of the upper windows. Should they be out on the lake they will see them and know that the Indians have not taken the house. Morning came without any sign of the absent ones. At daybreak person went out to scout in the woods and returned late in the afternoon with the news that the Indians had all departed and that for a distance of 10 miles at least the woods were entirely free. When it became dark the farmer again went down to the lake and watched until two when person took his place. Mr. Welch was turning to go back to the house when person placed his hand on his shoulder. Listen he said and for a minute the men stood immovable. What was it? I thought I heard the stroke of a paddle person said it might have been the jump of a fish. There. There it is again. He lay down and put his ear close to the water. There is a canoe in the lake to the northward. I can hear the strokes of the paddle plainly. Mr. Welch could hear nothing. Some minutes passed and person exclaimed. There. I saw a break in the water over there. There it is. He said straining his eyes in the darkness. There is a canoe sure enough although they have ceased paddling. It's not a mile away. Then he rose to his feet and shouted hello at the top of his voice. An answering shout faintly came back across the water. He again hailed loudly and this time the answer came in a female voice. It's them sure enough I can swear to Nelly's voice. William Welch uncovered his head and putting his hand before his face returned fervent thanks to God for the recovery of his child. Then he dashed off at full speed toward the house. Before he reached it however he met his wife running down to meet him. The shouts having informed her that something was seen. Hand in hand they ran down to the water's edge. The canoe was now swiftly approaching. The mother screamed, Nelly is that you? Mama, mama! came back the girl's clear tones. With a low cry of gladness Mrs. Welch felt senseless to the ground. The strain which she had for four days endured had been terrible and even the assurances of persons had failed to awaken any strong feeling of hope in her heart. She had kept up bravely and had gone about her work in the house with a pale, set face. But the unexpected relief was too much for her. Two minutes later the bow of the canoe grated on the shore and Nelly leaped into her father's arms. Where is mama? she exclaimed. She is here, my dear, but she is fainted. The joy of your return has been too much for her. Nelly knelt beside her mother and raised her head and the farmer grasped Harold's hand. My brave boy, he said, I have to thank you for saving my child's life. God bless you. He dipped his hat in the lake and sprinkled water in his wise face. She soon recovered and a few minutes afterwards the happy party walked to the house. Mrs. Welch being assisted by her husband in person. The two young ones were soon suited at a table ravenously devouring food and when their hunger was satisfied they related the story of their adventures, the whole of the garrison being gathered round to listen. After relating what had taken place up to the time of their hiding the canoe Harold went on. We walked about a quarter of a mile until we came to a large clump of underwood. We crept in there taking great pains not to break a twig or disturb a leaf. The ground was fortunately very dry and I could see that our footprints had not left the smallest marks. There we have lain hid ever since. We had the fish and the berries and fortunately the fruit was ripe and juicy and quenched our thirst well enough and we could sometimes hear the firing by day and always at night. On the day we took refuge we heard the voices of the Indians down toward the lake quite plainly but we have heard nothing of them since. Last night we heard the firing up to the middle of the night and then it suddenly stopped. Today I crept out and went down to the lake to listen but it seemed that everything was still. Nellie was in a terrible way and was afraid that the house had been taken by the Indians but I told her that could not be for that there would certainly have been a tremendous lot of firing at last whereas it stopped after a few shots just as it had been going on so long. Our provisions were all gone and Nellie was getting very bad for a want of water. I of course got a drink at the lake this morning so we agreed that if everything was still again tonight we would go back to the place where we had hidden the canoe launch it and paddle here. Everything was quiet so we came along as we had arranged. When I saw the lights in the windows I made sure all was right. Still it was a great relief when I heard the shout from the shore. I knew of course that it wasn't a red skinned shout. Besides Indians would have kept quiet till we came alongside. Very hearty commendations were bestowed upon the boy for his courage and thoughtfulness. You behaved like an old frontiersman person said I couldn't have done better myself. You only made one blunder from the time you set out from shore. What was that Harold asked? You were wrong to pick the berries. The redskins of course would find you where you had landed. They'd see the marks where you lay down and would know that you had paddled away again. Had it not been for their seeing the tracks you made and picking the berries they might have supposed that you had started before daybreak and gone out of sight across the lake. But then marks would have showed them that you did not take a canoe until long after the sun was up. And therefore you couldn't have made across the lake without their seeing you. But must either have landed or be in your canoe under the shelter of the tree somewhere along the shore. It's a marvel to me that they didn't find your traces. However careful you were to conceal them. But that's the only error you made. And I tell you youngen, you have a right to be proud of having outwitted the whole tribe of redskins. End of chapter three.