From where he lay he could see the white patch where he had cut the bark from the birch sapling, and he knew that immediately underneath it lay the powder bag.  He sighted the mark, and then slowly lowered his barrel until he had got to the base of the little trees as nearly as he could guess it among the tangle of bushes.  The first shot produced no result, however, and the second was aimed a foot lower.  The bullet penetrated the bag, and there was an explosion which shook the manor-house and swayed the whole line of stout stockades as though they were corn-stalks in a breeze.  Up to the highest summits of the trees went the huge column of blue smoke, and after the first roar there was a deathly silence which was broken by the patter and thud of falling bodies.  Then came a wild cheer from the defenders, and a furious answering whoop from the Indians, while the fire from the woods burst out with greater fury than ever.

But the blow had been a heavy one.  Of the thirty-six warriors, all picked for their valour, only four regained the shelter of the woods, and those so torn and shattered that they were spent men.  Already the Indians had lost heavily, and this fresh disaster made them reconsider their plan of attack, for the Iroquois were as wary as they were brave, and he was esteemed the best war-chief who was most chary of the lives of his followers.  Their fire gradually slackened, and at last, save for a dropping shot here and there, it died away altogether.

“Is it possible that they are going to abandon the attack?” cried De Catinat joyously.  “Amos, I believe that you have saved us.”

But the wily Du Lhut shook his head.  “A wolf would as soon leave a half-gnawed bone as an Iroquois such a prize as this.”

“But they have lost heavily.”

“Ay, but not so heavily as ourselves in proportion to our numbers.  They have fifty out of a thousand, and we twenty out of threescore.  No, no, they are holding a council, and we shall soon hear from them again.  But it may be some hours first, and if you will take my advice you will have an hour’s sleep, for you are not, as I can see by your eyes, as used to doing without it as I am, and there may be little rest for any of us this night.”

De Catinat was indeed weary to the last pitch of human endurance.  Amos Green and the seaman had already wrapped themselves in their blankets and sunk to sleep under the shelter of the stockade.  The soldier rushed upstairs to say a few words of comfort to the trembling Adele, and then throwing himself down upon a couch he slept the dreamless sleep of an exhausted man.  When at last he was roused by a fresh sputter of musketry fire from the woods the sun was already low in the heavens, and the mellow light of evening tinged the bare walls of the room.  He sprang from his couch, seized his musket, and rushed downstairs.  The defenders were gathered at their loop-holes once more, while Du Lhut, the seigneur, and Amos Green were whispering eagerly together.  He noticed as he passed that Onega still sat crooning by the body of her son, without having changed her position since morning.