“Robert—­dear, dear Robert,” said Maud, throwing her arms on his shoulders, “this is no moment for such bitter feelings.  Defend us, as I know you will, but defend us like a Christian.”

One kiss was all that the time allowed, and Maud rushed into the house to seek her mother and Beulah, feeling as if the tidings of Bob’s return might prove some little alleviation to the dreadful blow under which they must be suffering.

As for Willoughby, he had no time for pious efforts at consolation.  The Hut was to be made good against a host of enemies; and the cracking of rifles from the staging and the fields, announced that the conflict had begun in earnest.  Joyce handed him a rifle, and together they ascended rapidly to the roofs.  Here they found Jamie Allen and Blodget, loading and firing as fast as they could, and were soon joined by all the negroes.  Seven men were now collected on the staging; and placing three in front, and two on each wing, the major’s dispositions were made; moving, himself, incessantly, to whatever point circumstances called.  Mike, who knew little of the use of fire-arms, was stationed at the gate, as porter and warder.

It was so unusual a thing for savages to attack by daylight, unless they could resort to surprise, that the assailants were themselves a little confused.  The assault was made, under a sudden feeling of resentment at the escape of the prisoner, and contrary to the wishes of the principal white men in the party, though the latter were dragged in the train of events, and had to seem to countenance that of which they really disapproved.  These sudden outbreakings were sufficiently common in Indian warfare, and often produced memorable disasters.  On the present occasion, however, the most that could occur was a repulse, and to this the leaders, demagogues who owed their authority to the excesses and necessities of the times, were fain to submit, should it happen.

The onset had been fierce and too unguarded.  The moment the volley was fired at the major, the assailants broke cover, and the fields were alive with men.  This was the instant when the defence was left to Allen and Blodget, else might the exposure have cost the enemy dear.  As it was, the last brought down one of the boldest of the Indians while the mason fired with good will, though with less visible effect.  The yell that followed this demonstration of the apparent force of the garrison, was a wild mixture of anger and exultation, and the rush at the palisades was general and swift.  As Willoughby posted his reinforcement, the stockade was alive with men, some ascending, some firing from its summit, some aiding others to climb, and one falling within the enclosure, a second victim to Blodget’s unerring aim.