University of Virginia Library

12. CHAPTER XII.

The setting sun was throwing his parting beams
of rich and mellow light, in a thousand variegated
hues, over the intermingling foliage of the deciduous
and perennial forest, that deeply clothed the mountain
slopes to the eastward of the sluggish Otter.
The hardy and heroic woman, whose lot had been
cast in the wilderness on the banks of that stream,
and whose curious abode we have described in a
former chapter, still fearlessly retained her post, in

spite of all the terrors and dangers of an invasion
which had driven every settler, to the north and west
of her, from his home, and laid open all that section
of the Grants, to her very doors, to the unopposed
ravages of British and savage foes.

Her toils for the day being over, she was now
sitting at the door of her rude cabin, enjoying, with
an anxious and thoughtful brow, the grateful coolness
of the evening air, while her hopeful brood of
embryo foresters were lolling upon the grass, or
gamboling in childish freaks around her.

`O, mother! what was it that I seed over yonder,
that twinkled kinder white in the bushes, just now?'
exclaimed one of the younger boys, starting up with
excited looks, and pointing to the opposite side of
the creek at a spot some distance up the stream,
where the clearing, extending to the water, afforded
a fair view of the forest—lined banks of the western
side of the river.

The mother started, and threw a quick glance in
the direction thus indicated, but perceiving nothing,
she sank back into her seat, and observed, `I doubt
whether you saw any thing, my son; but if you did,
it was probably a flock of pigeons, or some other
birds rising from the ground.'

`No it want, mother,' replied the boy confidently,
`it want birds! It was something coming proper
fast along this way, by an open place in the trees,
and looked jist like folks running with white clothes
on.'

Aroused by this last remark, as well by the eager
and confident manner in which it was made, Mrs.
Story hastily rose, advanced a few steps, and sent
an anxious and scrutinizing look along the opposite
bank in search of the object that had so excited the

boy's attention. That object was the next moment
disclosed to her in the partial view she obtained of
a small company of both sexes on horseback, urging
forward their smoking and jaded steeds with all possible
haste towards the landing on that side of the
stream. She had been accidentally apprised that
the Hendee family were on their way south the day
previous, and having heard a distant, heavy firing,
in the direction they had taken, the fore part of the
present day, and coupling these circumstances with
the hurrying and alarmed appearance of the approaching
company, a painful apprehension now
flitted across her mind; and, with an air of deep
concern, she stepped inside the door, took down her
rifle, and began to proceed, at a hurried pace, towards
the creek. Some doubt, however, seeming to arrest
her steps, she stopped short, and again gave eye and
ear to objects before and around her. The report
of several rifles, some hundred yards up the stream,
followed by the distant shout of skirmishers, at that
instant reached the spot, and at once resolved her
doubts. Turning hastily to her children, now huddling
with looks of alarm around her, and ordering
them into the house, she flew down the path through
the woods to her landing, drew out her canoe from
its concealment, and springing in, pushed out boldly
for the opposite shore, at which she arrived just as
the fugitives, with soiled and torn garments, and
way-worn and troubled looks, came hurrying up to
the spot.

`God bless you for for this timely promptitude,
Mrs. Story,' exclaimed Selden, leaping from his
horse, and assisting the females and the infirm and
sadly jarred old veteran to dismount.

`You are pursued?' eagerly asked the widow.

`We are,' answered Selden, `and have been
every step of the way from the red field of Hubbardton.
We did not, however, intend to have
brought peril to your house. But striking across
the country to the creek, with the hope of escaping
up the road to Pittsford, we discovered the road to
be ambushed by a party of our outstripping foes,
and, as our only hope of escape, turned down stream
to find refuge at your abode. And even this we
never should have reached alive, but for the protecting
rifles of that noble fellow, Pete Jones, and his
brave and trusty scouts, who are still keeping fourfold
their numbers at bay till we can cross.'

`Well, heaven be praised for your deliverance so
far,' rejoined the widow, who still sat in her boat,
heading it up against the bank for the others to enter,
`but come, girls, jump in here—we will take you
over first.'

`Ay, ay,' said Selden, `there is not a moment to
be lost. And here, Neshobee,' he continued, as the
native, who had followed his friends on foot, now
arrived, `throw down your rifle, dash in there, and
swim across to bring back the boat, while I lead the
horses into a thicket—perhaps they may be saved.
At all events there is no chance to swim them over
here.'

`The canoe will not carry us all safely,' said Alma,
in a quiet and sorrowful tone, as her companions,
who had first entered, seated themselves in the
boat.

`O, no danger—not the least; step in,' said the
widow encouragingly.

`No, let me remain,' replied the former. `There
will probably be no danger till the boat can return.
But if there should be,' she added in the same plaintive

and desponding accents, `if there should be,
what matters it to me?'

`Alma Hendee!' said the widow, looking up at
the other with an air of mingled surprise and expostulation,
`how is this?—where is your fortitude?'

The grief-stricken maiden made a slight effort to
speak, but the utterance died away on her quivering
lip, and the bright tear drops stood in her eyes.

`What has happened to her?' asked the woman,
looking round on the company with an expression
of wonder and concern.

`Warrington has fallen in battle,' replied Selden,
with an unsuccessful effort to speak without emotion.

`Now, Heaven forbid!' exclaimed the widow, in
accents which plainly told the shock which the sad
announcement had imparted to her feelings.

`Yes, the gallant fellow has left us,' resumed the
other. `The melancholy tidings were received from
a soldier, who joined us in our flight, and who said
he saw him fall dead from his horse in the last moments
of the battle. But do not allow yourself to
despond, my dear Miss Hendee. You had better
go over now,' he added, soothingly, as he approached,
and gently urged the mutely sorrowful, but now
passive girl into the boat, which was instantly headed
round, and, under the strokes of the strong armed
widow, sent surging towards the other shore.

Stopping no longer than to see the females under
weigh, Selden sprang up the bank, seized the horses
by their bridles, and whipping them into a lively
trot, led them into a neighboring thicket, tied them
to saplings, and flew back to the shore. The active
young Indian, who had readily undertaken to swim
the stream, had already returned with the canoe,
taken in Captain Hendee, and sat impatiently waiting,

with uplifted oar, to push again from the shore.

`There! now lay too with a will, my lad,' cried
Selden, leaping into the boat just as the scattering
fire of several rifles, quickly returned by that of a
much larger number, a short distance beyond, burst
from the bushes at a point now not more than a
quarter of a mile up the stream, apprising them that
the enemy were rapidly driving in Jones and his
party, who, as previously concerted, were retiring
before their pursuers in three divisions, each in turn
coming in front, discharging their pieces from their
coverts, and scudding on to the rear of the others
to reload and await the approach of their foes.

`If we can get one boat-load of men safely over,'
resumed Selden, `we shall be able, I trust, to protect
the rest in crossing; and when all are over, I
hope to keep the rascals on their own side of the
river.'

`That may be done till dark, perhaps,' observed
Captain Hendee, `but with our small force, not after,
I think. No, Captain Selden, unless the disposition
of these tories is less devilish than I rate it,
and the nature of their Indian allies has changed
since I used to deal with the hell-hounds, we may
as well prepare for a siege.'

`Let it come, then,' replied the other determinedly
—`with the widow's “Tother world” for a concealment
and strong hold for the women and children,
and those impervious logs of her cabin to protect
us while we fight, many a tory and red-skin must
take a leaden supper before they capture us. But
here we are, safe ashore. Neshobee, will you take
back the boat, or shall I?'

`Me go,—no fraid,' answered the native, again
pushing out into the stream.

`Very well,—I will remain to superintend the
transportation of the men. And you, Captain Hendee,
had better proceed immediately to the house,
and, if you will, be looking a little to the means of
defending it. An old soldier like yourself will
need no instructions in that duty. Hold out bright
hopes to the ladies, but see that they retire from the
upper world in season, and while they may, undiscovered,
if their passage to the lower, with which I
am unacquainted, is likely to expose them to the
sight of the enemy.'

`Ay, ay, I will see to it,' replied the other, hurrying
off with unwonted activity to the cabin, where
he was met at the door by the widow.

`What is the prospect, Captain?' she asked in a
low, eager tone.

`The men will get over, I think, with few or no
losses, but'—

`But what?'

`Those untiring fiends are after blood! Our men
have already to day made a heavy inroad on their
numbers, and they are determined on revenge. I
have no hope but that they will find means to cross
the creek and besiege us, as soon as it is dark.'

`Nor have I the least, since Alma has told me the
particulars of your disasters, and the conduct of that
wretch who has caused them. Hendee, I have long
known that Jake Sherwood, and have wondered at
your course.'

`I was duped—deceived, Ann Story, but I have
been an egregious old fool even at that, I will own,
—besides treating my own flesh and blood like a
tyrant and a brute. Furies! I could beat my own
brains out! If you were a man, and connected
with me as you are, you ought to curse me to my

face. A good round damming from a friendly
source would seem to relieve my feelings. But
where are the girls?'

`All within here. They have taken a litttle refreshment,
and seem getting up their spirits a little.'

`Well, we will not dampen their feelings at present;
but they, and you with your children, had better
be on the move to your underground refuge.'

`That is easily gained now.'

`Why, you enter the creek, as formerly, don't you?'

`No, I have made a fine improvement this summer.
Come, attend me, and you shall see.'

`I will, but must first glance at the means we
shall have of defending the house, which we must
make our fortress, for beating off or weakening the
enemy. Your place of concealment below must be
the last resort of the men, if they enter it at all.'

They now entered the house and were met by
the anxious and enquiring looks of the girls, who
sat silently waiting to hear the news which the Captain
might have brought from the scene of action.

`Has he'—at length commenced Miss Reed, unable
longer to repress her anxiety, but stopping short
and blushing at the exclusiveness of the enquiry she
was about to make, `has—that is, is the danger
over?'

`We hope so,' replied the Captain, `at least there
can be but little danger for you females. Captain
Selden trusts to prevent the enemy from crossing.
He commands without, and I, for the present, within;
and I hope to find in you a brave garrison.'

`Jessy, at least, will prove no coward for herself, I
suspect,' remarked the widow a little archly.

`Well, both she and Alma are soldiers' daughters,'
resumed the Captain, `and should danger beset us

to-night, I trust they will bear themselves as they
have already done for the last twenty-four hours,
with firmness and fortitude. But now for the business
on hand,' he added, turning to the hostess,
and glancing round the walls of the house.

`Very well, sir, and to begin, here is my double
plank door—bullet-proof, I think, and the fastenings
abundantly secure.'

`Yes, I have noticed, but what loop holes shall
we have to fire from, besides that window?'

`Here,' answered the widow, stepping up to one
of the walls, and pulling out a nicely fitting block
from a cone shaped embrasure cut through one of
the logs. `There are two of these on each side and
end of the house, and as many more just below the
eves in the chamber loft above.'

`Just the things for us—and now if we had but a
long square block to fill that window'—

`You have it at hand, with a loop like the rest, in
that block on which the children are sitting there.'

`Admirable! a regular fort, by George! Ann
Story, you ought to be the wife of a general. Let
us now proceed to your unfindable fastness below.'

`In an instant,' said the widow, going to the fire
and blowing up a torch. `Boys lift that door,' she
added, pointing to a trap door in the corner of the
room that opened into the cellar.

Followed by the Captain, the widow now descended
through the trap in the floor on a short ladder
into the cellar, and going to the western side, and
removing a bundle of straw standing against the
wall, disclosed the entrance of a narrow, upright
passage, leading off into the earth, in the direction
of the river.

`Come on!' said the prompt and energetic woman,

plunging directly into the dark vaulted way
before her, as she held the torch partly before her
guest.

After proceeding several rods through this straight
and narrow passage, all smoothly cut through the
solid earth some distance below the surface, they
came to a lateral excavation, forming an arched
room about a dozen feet square.

`This is my half-way house—my innermost recess,'
said the widow, stepping into the center of the
room and holding up the light that the other might
see to examine. `This is a much stronger place
than the outer, or western room, which you have been
into before, I believe, as the earth is here much
thicker above us, owing to a swell in the surface,
over which, to make it still more difficult to dig
through, spread the widely branching roots of several
large maples.'

`True,' replied the Captain, `and one man at
each entrance might defend the place against hundreds.
Ah! I plainly see that we old soldiers have
got to yield the palm to you, Ann: In all my
experience of twenty years among these northern
forests in fighting and dodging the enemy, and
planning, building, or seeking out places for forts,
defences and refuges, I never saw or thought of any
thing like this establishment of yours.'

`I can think of no way by which our foes can
rout us from this,' rejoined the widow, `unless they
storm us, or smoke us out. I believe I shall curtain
off this room with blankets for the children and
girls to night, while we give up the other room, if
needed, to our defenders. But you have seen
enough of this, let us pass on.'

They now entered the remaining part of the passage,

which, after running a few rods in a direct
line, and then winding round to the left, brought
them into the large partitioned room we have formerly
described.

`This you have seen before,' said the widow,
pausing as they entered the room, `and there is
nothing new to show you here, except my stores;
those barrels,' she continued, pointing to two casks
standing just within the entrance of the smaller
room, `contain provisions, which, on the rumor of
the approaching invasion, I employed my neighbor
just before he left us, to purchase for me at Crown
Point.'

`Well, it is not impossible that we shall need
them,' remarked the Captain thoughtfully.

`Famine often follows closely in the footseps of
war,' resumed the other; `so I thought I would supply
myself in season. Nor do provisions constitute
the whole of my supplies; for it occurring to me at
the same time that something like the present emergency
might happen, I made another purchase, which
may be still more important to us.'

`What may that be?' asked the other.

`Stand back to the mouth of the entrance, take,
and hold up this torch, and I will show you,' answered
the woman, proceeding to the opposite side
of the room, taking down a broad piece of bark,
which had been snugly fitted into the mouth of a
little, low chamber, or recess, excavated in the earthy
wall, and disclosing to view the ends of some half
dozen strongly bound casks, to which she now directed
his attention with her finger.

`What have you there, Ann, so mysteriously hid
up,' said the old gentleman with a look of mingled
curiosity and surprise.

`Gun powder, with an abundance of loud behind
there to serve.'

`Indeed! but not all your own, surely?'

`No;—only one is mine—the rest belong to the
settlers, who live north of this, and who, expecting
that a stand would have been made against the enemy
in this vicinity, had, it seems, amply provided
themselves for the crisis. But finding that resistance
would be useless, they concluded to flee; when,
getting wind of my strong hold, they brought their
munitions, which they were unable to carry with
them, to this place for safe keeping till they should
return or send for them.'

`Faith! that's lucky,' exclaimed the Captain. `It
may be wanted to supply the powder horns of the
men, and—and'—he continued partly to himself, as
he glanced about the room, with a look of wild and
exulting joy at the thought which seemed to strike
his mind, `and with the chance which these underground
rooms and passages afford, as a last resort,
of blowing that infernal gang nearer heaven than
they will otherwise ever get—but time enough to
think of that when other measures fail.'

`What measures?' asked the widow, who, having
been busy in replacing the door of her magazine,
had not heeded the remarks of the other, except
two or three words at the close.

`O, nothing of any present moment,' answered
Captain Hendee, with the air of one willing to let
the words pass without being understood; `but let
us now see how you have fixed the outer entrance.'

Resuming her torch, the widow immediately led
the way through the passage to the entrance at the
bank of the Creek.

`There! having no further use for this entrance,

I have fastened it up,' said she, pausing as she approached
the end of the avenue, which was blocked
up by a single layer of square short timbers, placed
horizontally across the passage and let into the
earth at the ends. `It can only be opened on the
inside, as you perceive, or at least, not easily; and
I have considered it a safe barrier, though, to be
sure, by considerable digging on the out side—but
hush!—hark! Do you hear that shouting out upon
the creek, or on its banks?'

`Ay; and it sounds as if there's trouble afoot too.
Cannot this top timber be removed without danger
of exposing the entrance to the discovery of the
enemy from the opposite bank?'

`I should think so, as the mouth is pretty thickly
overhung with bushes.'

`Let us lift it out then, that we may see, or at
least hear, what is going on.'

The timber was accordingly carefully removed;
when through the crevice thus formed, a tolerable
distinct view was obtained of a long reach of the
creek above, and a short one below. The last boat
load of Selden's men had gained the middle of the
stream, and were pulling with all possible speed for
the hither shore, on which all those who had crossed
were posted behind their coverts, keenly watching,
with cocked and leveled pieces, for the first head
that should be raised on the opposite bank to fire
upon the boat. The boat's crew, as they had been
ordered, were all seated, save one man, who had inadvertently
risen on his feet to point out to his commander
on shore the object which had caused the
noise and stir that had reached the ears of the widow
and her friend. The man's arm was still extended
up the river with the motions of one trying to
count a series of some moving objects.

The widow, having the most favorable position
for the purpose, instantly turned her eyes in the direction
thus indicated.

What can you see as the cause of the commotion?'
asked the Captain, after the other had gazed an instant
in silence.

`Well, I confess, I don't know exactly what to
make of them,' replied the woman, as with a puzzled
expression she still kept her eyes riveted on the
spot:—`something is evidently crossing the creek,
nearly as far as I can see up the stream. At any
other time, I should think it must be a flock of
cranes with their long necks only above water.'

`It is the Indians!' exclaimed the Captain, in
low startling accents—`it is the Indians, swimming
the Creek on their backs, and holding their guns upright
on their breasts. I have seen their tricks before
to day.'

At that instant a stream of smoke, accompanied
by the sharp crack of a rifle, shot out fiercely from
an old tree top on the opposite bank, while, at the
same time, the man standing in the boat fell over
backwards into the water, and sunk, to rise no more,
beneath its bubbling surface. An exclamation of
horror rose to the lips of the Captain and the widow;
but before it could be uttered, and while the
echoes of the last shot were yet ringing among the
neighboring hills, the stunning report of another rifle,
bursting from the bank directly over their heads,
and followed by a hollow groan, and a floundering
fall in the bushes on the other side, told that the
death of the victim was avenged.

`There! Jim Townley,' exclaimed the well known
voice of Pete Jones, on the bank above, “`Old
Trusty” has done the business for your murderer, I

guess; though if he hadn't tore his coat so as to
make a white spot in his back, as he was slinking
away, I never could have got an aim worth firing
for. Well,' he continued, soliloquizing, as he appeared
to be reloading his piece, `that is the way with the
best of us. Jim was a fellow of first rate grit, and
I'd rather gin any thing but old Trusty—yes, and
that too,—than to have him gone so. But if spirits
can hear and see things, as some think, it will be a
grand comfort to one of Jim's spunk and pride, on
his way along up, to know that the bloody rascal
didn't live to brag on't.'

The survivors of the boat's crew, now reaching
the landing, sprang upon the bank, and took their
stations among their comrades along the shore, to
watch any further appearance of their foes. But
none daring to show themselves after the lesson just
received, a silence of some minutes now prevailed.
The calm was not destined, however, to last long.
Another cry of alarm was soon raised by one of the
men, eagerly calling on the rest to look down the
stream.

`O, the divils! the divils!' cried the shrill voice
of Jones, `they have stole our horses, and are swimming
them across down there, with two of the lubbers
on the back of every horse. By Judas! what
a chance to plug them, if I was only forty rods nearer!
Say, Captain Selden, what if I take two or
three men, and scud down that way a little?'

`No, Jones,' replied Selden, `our force is too
small to scatter. The Indians in a few moments
more will be upon us from above; besides, we have
not a man to lose in open fight. Let every one,
therefore,' he continued, raising his voice to a tone
of command, `retire from the bank, and, keeping a

tree in his range, repair directly to the house. Then
let them come with a welcome.'

`Well, the hour of trial is at hand,' observed the
widow with a sort of desperate calmness, `and may
God be merciful unto us. Assist me, Captain Hendee,
to replace this timber; and then I must instantly
back to bring down my children and the girls.
The men will reach the house by the time we can
get there ourselves. There! that will do—all safe,
I think. Now follow me as fast as your crazy old
limbs will let you—come on—faster—faster—come
on! come on!' And with the old veteran, taxing
his powers of speed to the utmost to keep up the
fearless woman, though anxious mother, with her
torch streaming behind her, rather flew than walked,
till she had gained the cellar, and sprang up the ladder
leading up into the room, where she had left the
objects of her solicitude.

`Here!' she exclaimed, raising her head through
the trap, and glancing round the room where the females,
ignorant of what had taken place without,
were unconcernedly sitting with the children, hanging
about their chairs, `here, to the cellar, every
chick and child of you, to the cellar! And you,
girls, must follow, without a moment's delay,' she
added, seizing the little urchins by the waist, and
lifting them one by one in rapid succession down
the pass-way, as, alarmed by the startling tones of
their mother's voice, they ran huddling to the entrance.

`Is there any immediate danger?' asked Alma,
calmly, though with an expression of some surprise,
at the rapid and agitated manner of the widow.

`Not for us, if we are out of the way; but the
tories are crossing below, and the Indians, on this

side above, are, by this time, perhaps, within gunshot
of us, in the skirts of yonder woods.'

`And Selden and his men?'—eagerly said Jessy.

`Will be here in a moment to make this room
their fortress, for their own and our protection. And
a shower of balls, through that open door and window,
will probably salute them as they enter.

`True, true,' observed Captain Hendee, who having
crowded by the widow on the ladder, and gained
the floor, now stepped to the door, hastily shut it, and
proceeded to bring the block for closing up the window,
`true, this danger to the girls and children did
not occur to me, as it seems it did to you, by your
leading my rheumatic legs such a deuced race
through the passage from the creek. Yes, girls,
down with you all, and on to the middle room, and
have no fears but that we will defend you.'

`But you, father?' said Alma, looking back as
she was descending, with an expression of solicitude,
`you are surely not to remain?—youare too
are too old—infirm'—

`I am young again, girl. The thought of our
treatment, and the fate which our foes evidently design
for us still, make me a soldier again—go down,
my daughter, and may God be with you, and strike
for us all,' said the old veteran, letting down the
trap upon the last of the retiring party.

Scarcely had the mingled voices of the women
and children died away, as they retreated along the
passage to their refuge under the earth, before Selden
and his men came scattering along into the
house, fortunately not, however, with the danger
which the widow had anticipated. As soon as the
whole company, now numbering but twelve, including
Captain Hendee and Neshobee, had gained the

room, they immediately proceeded to barricade the
door, and put every thing in the best possible condition
for a defence.

While they were thus busily engaged, unmindful
of the severe fatigues of the day, in the excitement
created by the alarming prospects of the night,
which was now about to set in, the trap door was
pushed up, and the provident widow re-appeared,
ascending the ladder with a large loaf of bread and
a haunch of dried vension under one arm, and a
pail of water, in which floated the accustomed gourd
shell, slung on the other. With many a blessing on
the widow's head, and many an oath to defend her
and hers to the death, the famished and wearied soldiers
eagerly fell upon the grateful repast, after
which they repaired with renewed spirits to the several
stations allotted them above and below along
the walls.

`I wish the rascals would make themselves manifest,
if they are around us, as I suspect,' observed
Selden, after the company had stood some time at
their respective loop holes, silently awaiting the appearance
of the enemy.

`That they will be cunning enough not to do till
the approach of darkness,' replied Captain Hendee.
`Then you will hear from them, I'll warrant you.
And as they can have but small hope of perforating
these logs with their bullets, they will probably attempt
to beat down the door, or burn the house over
our heads.'

`They will find the latter a difficult job, I imagine,'
responded Selden. `These bare logs, after the
heavy rain of last night, and that, too, at the distance
which we can manage to keep the knaves,

cannot offer much inducement for an attempt to ignite
them with lighted arrows.'

`True,' replied the other, `but you forget the roof
—these bark coverings are rather combustible.'

`No, I thought of that,' rejoined Selden, `and
was about to remark, that if they fired the roof we
must tear it off.'

`That can be done, perhaps,' replied the former.
`At all events, it will be time enough to think of it
when they arrive for the attack; for I doubt whether
there is now one of them within a quarter of a
mile of us.'

`Now, I've a notion there is,' said Pete Jones,
who, in the mean while, had been keenly watching
every appearance within the scope of his vision,
`and I shouldn't be much surprised if some of those
stumps and log-heaps over in the widow's grass yonder,
if they could talk, would be willing to swear to
it.'

`Have you actually seen any of them, Jones?'
asked Selden.

`Why,' answered the scout, with his peculiar
comic twist of features, `I have actually seen a sign
or two, that I have never known fail, except in the
dryest of times. And with your leave, Captain Selden,
I have thoughts of an experiment, by way
of putting the question at rest, and doing something
more, perhaps, into the bargain.'

`Well—very well'—said Selden, pausing for the
other to explain the nature of his proposal.

`Here is at it, then,' said the scout, choosing to
answer, by actions rather than words, the enquiry
which the manner of his superior implied, while he
proceeded to strip off his coat, button it up, and,
with the brush of an old broom that stood in a corner,

distend the body, running the short handle into
one arm to keep the artificial limb thus made in a
horizontal position.

`What are you a going to do with your scarecrow,
now?' asked Selden, who, with the rest of the
company stood looking on, anxious to learn the
character of the proposed stratagem.

`I'll show you in a minute,' replied Pete, now
getting the poker and suspending his contrivance
upon one end of it. `There, Captain Hendee, I
want you should take charge of this concern—you'll
know how to manage it,—while the rest of us, who
have keener sight for aim in the dusk, will attend to
our rifles. But mind ye, I have first got to deliver
a little bit of an oration for the benefit of the gentlemen
outside, if so be that they're within ear-shot,
as I surmise.'

The scout, then, after pulling out one end of the
block in the window a short space, that his voice
might the better be heard by those whom it was intended
to reach, commenced and carried on by himself
a sort of ventriloquial dialogue, purporting that
a discovery had suddenly been made, that they were
out of bullets, and were wishing to obtain a bar of
lead that had been left standing outside under the
window, while the question seemed to be, who
should expose himself by reaching out his hand to
get it; but one at length appearing to be found hardy
enough to undertake the task, the speaker suddenly
dropped the discourse and turned to the company
present.

`There, boys, have your muzzles to your loops,
and your eyes on the lookout for game,' he said in
a low eager tone. `And you, Captain Hendee, be
ready to pass the figure up to the window, which I

am about to lay open, and which all, as they value
the union of body and soul, must keep out of the
range of. Don't fire till I give the word. All ready?
well, here goes then,' he added, swinging out the
block and stepping quickly to his loop-hole.

Captain Hendee now proceeded immediately to
execute the part he had been requested to perform.
And while the company were waiting with breathless
interest the result, he moved along the effigy towards
the window, so as to show only one arm and
a portion of the bust to those who might be watching
without, skilfully imparting to the figure the cautious
and hesitating motions of a living actor, who
might be supposed to be conscious of the hazard
incurred, though determined to approach. Scarcely
had the protruding arm entered the narrow opening,
bringing one side of the body in fair view to
the supposed lurking enemy without, when a bright
flash suddenly gleamed through the window, and,
with the almost simultaneous report of a dozen
guns, bursting from the surrounding coverts, a shower
of bullets passed through the effigy, and buried
themselves in the logs of the opposite wall. There
was again a momentary silence, when, with the lifting
smoke along the line from which the fire proceeded,
several dark forms became visible, peering
out from their respective coverts, and quivering and
dodging about in the dissipating vapor. Then came
the sharp word of command from the watchful
scout.

`Fire!'

Eight well aimed rifles from the loops along the
walls above and below, instantly spoke in response;
and the mingled screech of a half dozen voices, followed
by a yell of rage and disappointment from the

whole band of the beseigers, plainly told the result
of the stratagem.

`Now, by Hokey! if I don't keep this coat to
brag on—six bullet-holes right through the body and
the owner still alive and kicking!' exclaimed the
scout, picking up the riddled garment and feeling
out the bullet holes with his fingers, as the loud shout
of exultation and defiance, which burst from the little
band on the occasion, died away in the surrounding
forest.

For nearly an hour, the besieged, who had closed
up their window and resumed their respective posts,
now strained both car and eye in vain, to catch some
sight or sound indicating the presence of the foe
around them. But fully aware of the desperate and
wily character of those with whom they had to deal,
they determined to suffer none of their vigilance to
relax. And but a short time elapsed before they
made a discovery which taught them the wisdom of
the resolution:—As all stood watching at their posts
in silence, a low, short exclamation from the young
Indian, testified that something suspicious had at
length attracted his attention.

`What now, Neshobee?' softly asked Selden,
stepping noiselessly towards the native, who was lying
on the floor in one corner, listening through a
crevice which he had found between the lower logs.

`Me no see nothing, but hark um scratch um buttons—guess
um lift something,' was the somewhat
hesitating reply.

`I'll grant you the best “harkum,” as you call it,
boy,' said Pete Jones, who stood near, and, on the
exclamation of the Indian, had renewedly taxed his
vision to discover the cause; `but as to eye-shot,
you have got to knuckle to me, for I can see them;

and they are at some bobbery, too—though what in the
name of reason it can be,' he continued, pausing
and hesitating as he turned his head one way and
then another, to obtain a more distinct view; `what
it can be, I am dubious whether the divil himself
can tell,—unless he contrived it for 'em. They are
moving down the path this way—I believe—yes, and
in pairs, too, like new married geese. What?—no
—yes, they have got something upon their shoulders—I
should think it was one of the corpses we
made for 'em, which they were carrying to be buried,
only it is as long as a sea-sarpent.'

`Aha! I understand it,' cried the young leader,
`it is some long timber which they intend to use as
a battering-ram to beat in our door. And thank
Heaven for the timely discovery, but for which, ten
to one, we had been lost,—and even as it is there
is danger enough. Stand to your guns, boys,' he
continued, in a low thrilling tone, though sufficiently
raised to reach every man within, `if we can but
drop two or three of the foremost, the whole, probably
will be carried down by the weight of the timber—cock
your guns—keep a steady eye on the advancing
column, and be ready for the word.'

Slowly, and with noiseless tread, did the performers
of this new mode of attack approach along the
path, staggering under the weight of the long heavy
pole, or rather the trunk of a closely trimmed tree,
which they bore on their shoulders, till within three
or four rods of the house; when squaring round,
and pointing the but end of their formidable implement
directly at the door, they began to bear it forward
with mighty force towards the object of its
aim, which the next instant must have given way
before the tremendous impetus which it was gathering

for the blow. At that critical juncture Selden
gave the signal to his impatient men, and every gun
that could be brought to bear was discharged upon
the assailants. A cry of agony rose from the spot,
followed with a shout of “hold on! for God's sake
hold on!” Then was heard the sounds of floundering
footsteps, and in another breath the whole
came thundering to the ground. Once more the
house rung with the triumphant shouts of the Green
Mountain Boys, and all again was silent.

Another long respite was allowed our little band,
and during the hour succeeding the last onset, nothing
could be seen or heard to betray the presence of
the enemy any where in the vicinity of the spot.
They had evidently retired to some distance to hold
a consultation, and arrange some new method of attack.
At length, however, the occasional cracking
of a dry stick, as it broke apparently under cautiously
moving feet in the field and woods around,
apprised the intently listening band within, that the
twice baffled foe were again stealthily drawing up
to the spot, still bent on renewing, in some shape or
other, the assault. After appearing to approach
to their line of coverts, reaching within five
or six rods of the house, a dead silence of many
minutes ensued, leaving the besieged still wholly
ignorant of the form, in which the threatened attack
was to be made, and even, at length, in some
doubt whether it was to be made at all. All at once
a tremendous outcry broke though the surrounding
gloom, and the thrilling yells of the savages, mingled
with the hoarser shouts of the tories, resounded
in one unceasing din through the forest. Startled,
but not dismayed by this sudden outbreak, the
Green Mountain Boys instantly cocked their pieces,

and stood straining their vision to catch a glimpse
of the foe. But they watched in vain. No living
object was to be seen, though the noise, which seemed
not to be the regular war-cry sometimes raised
on the eve of an onset, but a promiscuous clamour,
was continued without the least intermission. And
together with the war-whoop and shout, the rattling
of guns and ramrods, the crashing of dry brush, the
beating of clubs against trees, the mimic hooting of
owls, the howling and bellowing of wild beasts, with
all imaginable noises, seemed to unite to swell the
strange uproar.

`Well, now, if I an't beat,' exclaimed Pete Jones,
as usual the first with his comments on the occasion.
`I wonder if the foolish satans expect to throw down
our walls of hard maple logs, and well locked together
at the ends to boot, by racket and roaring, as
the Jewish militia did those of old Jericho, that I've
read of in the scripter? I rather guess they will
find it a hard go, unless they blow them down with
horns of powder, as I've sometimes kinder reckoned
must be the meaning of the good book, in that business
I've just spoke of, seeing as how it was jest
as easy for God to make 'em gun-powder to do it
with, as 'twas manna to eat.'

`I think it must be a feint,' replied Selden, `to
cover some design of a more dangerous character
than mere noise. An attack of some kind is doubtless
in preparation for us; but in what manner, or
place, the storm is to burst, I am wholly at loss to
conjecture. Keep a keen eye abroad, boys. And
you, Neshobee, go immediately down through the
passage to the western entrance, where you heard
Captain Hendee say he would repair, when he left
us a short time ago. Tell him to keep a strict guard

in that quarter, and if beset, send instantly for a reinforcement.
And now, my brave lads,' he continued,
turning to his men, `a crisis may be at hand,
which will require your coolness and—but stay—what
means this? Do my eyes deceive me, or is it growing
lighter in the room?'

`It is—it certainly is!' responded several.

`The moon—the rising moon!' suggested others.

`You needn't go to blaming the moon for this,'
cooly observed Jones, `for, according to my reckoning,
it wont be up this two hours.'

`True,' said the leader; though evidently reflected
light, it is not from the moon. See! see! how
rapidly it increases!' he continued, as a sort of flickering
suffusion of light, weak and scarcely perceptible
at first, but growing stronger and more distinguishable
every second, as if reflected from a steadily
kindling flame in some unseen point in the heavens,
now began dimly to light up the grounds around
the house, and even render objects in the room visible.
`This light was never made by the enemy to
enable us to shoot them. There is mischief afoot
somewhere. Let every man, then, stand to his post,
and let every eye be strained to discover the cause.'

At that instant the appalling cry of “fire! the
roof is on fire!” resounded through the loft above,
revealing at once to the startled inmates below the
character of the expected danger, and the meaning
of the mysterious uproar, which had, it was now evident,
enabled the enemy to approach the house,
mount it at the corners, set fire in different places to
the roof with their ready prepared combustibles, and
descend and escape unheard and undetected.

`Cut the fastenings of the outside binders of the
roof, and stave off every bark of the covering that

the fire has reached,' shouted the excited leader to
the men above.

`It will expose us to certain death from the shot
of the enemy, to make an opening while we remain
here,' was the reply.

`Rip up the floor between us, then,' promptly
said Selden, `to give us a chance to do it from below
here—off with the fastenings! up with the floor!
Hand us down two or three of those longest plank
for our purpose, and descend yourselves to our assistance.
Lively my men! As you value our salvation,
be lively!'

In prompt obedience to the command, the men
tore up the loose boards composing the floor, and,
after passing down to their comrades below such as
might be needed, hastily threw the rest together at
the ends of the loft, leaving all the inside of the
roof open to the lower floor; when swinging themselves
down by the bare beams, they joined in the
operations already then in rapid progress upon the
frail covering above. The long boards having been
reared up endwise, and each one placed in the hands
of two strong men, were now thrust forcibly against
the roof at the different points where the fires were
supposed to be burning on the outside; and several
breaches were made, all expecting, that by the removal
of a few of the barks the flames might be extinguished.
But appearances soon taught them,
that their hopes of thus conquering the element
were wholly delusive. The light above, instead of
dying away—as portions of the burning roof were
removed, continued rapidly to increase. Small
tongues of the lambent flames began to show themselves
through the lateral crevices in the covering in
numerous places, quivering, and leaping from point

to point along the inner surface, while a general
crackling above plainly told them that the fire had
already spread nearly or quite over the whole of the
outside of the roof. Perceiving that nothing short
of unroofing the whole building would stop the progress
of the flames, they now proceeded with renewed
vigor in their operations. Piece after piece
of the broad barks were beat off, and hurled blazing
to the ground. And the work was continued with
unabated energy till the last vestige of the burning
material had been removed, and nothing but the naked
rafters intervened between the lower floor, on
which all our little band were now assembled, and
the starry heavens above them.

`There, thank Heaven, we are freed from that
danger at last!' exclaimed Selden, in tones of gratulation,
as he threw down the implement with which
he had been assisting his men in their labors.

`That's right enough,' observed the scout, whose
attention for some moments seemed to have been
arrested by some appearance he noticed through a
loop hole. `All that is right enough mayhap; but
while we are putting up thanks for deliverance from
one danger, I am a little suspicious whether or no
we had'nt better join to 'em a small bit of a prayer
to be delivered from a worse one that we've got to
see to soon, I've a notion—jest look here, Captain.'

Selden turned to the spot occupied by the speaker,
who stood silently and successively pointing to
the different loop holes along the walls, and the
words of the latter were explained. Flames, raising
from the ground on the outside, began to be visible,
and their flickering points were already darting up
in fitful leaps athwart several of the apertures, announcing
to the dismayed inmates, that a fire was

in rapid progress on the outer walls of the house
from combustibles, which had been piled up against
them, doubtless, at the time of firing the roof, and
which had been kindled by fire placed there by the
enemy, or by burning fragments of bark falling down
from above. All saw at a glance that it was utterly
impossible to arrest, by any means now left them,
the spreading conflagration, and that consequently
the house must soon be relinquished to the devouring
element. And but a few more moments had
elapsed before they were warned, by the spouts of
crackling flames now beginning to shoot up above
the tops of the roofless walls, and by the sensibly
increasing heat in the room, to prepare for their retreat
to their last refuge in the subterraneous abode
of their provident hostess. At that instant, the voice
of Sherwood, the leader of their foes, was heard
above the roaring of the flames, loudly calling on
the besieged to yield themselves as prisoners, and
come forth, lest they should perish in the fire.

`Is there a possibility of getting a glimpse of that
demon through the loops? asked Selden, in a tone
of concentrated bitterness. `If there is, let a rifle
bullet take back his answer.'

In pursuance of the suggestion of their leader,
the men made an attempt to get a sight of their
foes, who, now sensible of their advantage, were
heard shouting within a few rods of the house. But
it was useless; for the walls, by this time, were so
completely enveloped in fire and smoke as wholly to
intercept the view of every object without.

`Let us beat a retreat, then, for the widow's
strong hold below,' resumed Selden; `but let us
pause a moment to send a glance over yonder treetops,
lest they contain eyes which will discover, in

our movement, what I trust those exulting fiends do
not, and will not suspect,—that this is not our last, nor
best resource for baffling their hellish purposes.

The last speaker had scarcely ceased, before Jones,
who seemed to have anticipated the object of his superior,
raised his rifle to his shoulder, preparatory to
an aim, while his eye continued intently fixed on the
body of a large hemlock standing eight or ten rods
from the house.

`What now, Jones?' said the former, who noticed
the sudden movement of the scout.

`Hold easy!' replied the other, `there's something
that acts mightily like a red-skin going up the
back side of that tree yonder. But he's so pesky
delicate about showing any thing better than toes
and fingers—stay—stay'—he continued, in a low
gleeful chuckle, `there's a large limb just above
him, which, if he's fool enough to try to pass it,
must throw his body out of the track so far that—
and, by Jethro! he is a going to try it. Now hold
still as thunder, all, and I'll be the chap to speak to
the red divil.'

Every eye now glanced anxiously from the long
and steadily poised tube of the scout to the tree in
question, and a moment of breathless silence succeeded;
when the sharp report of the piece rung
through the forest, and the dull, heavy jar upon the
earth, that instantly followed, told that another foeman
was added to the long list of victims who had
fallen beneath the murderous bullets of the unerring
old Trusty.

`Down! down with you all, before the smoke of
the piece rises,' exclaimed Selden, as he now, after
hurrying his men through the trap into the cellar,
hastily descended himself and let the door down after
him.