“They will be divided into two parties,” continued Boone; “one party will attack us from the west with their arrows, keeping at a respectful distance from our guns, while the other will force a passage to the palisade from the east without being seen, for they will come under the snow!  We must instantly plant a keg of powder, on the outside of the inclosure, and blow them up when they come.  Joe, bring out a keg of powder, and also the fishing rods I saw in the house.  The latter must be joined together, and a communication opened through them.  They must be filled with powder and one end placed in the keg, while the other reaches the inclosure, passing through an auger hole.  You all understand now what is to be done—­let us go to work—­we have no time to spare.”

It was not long before every thing was executed according to the directions of Boone, and at nightfall each man was stationed at a loophole, with gun in hand, awaiting the coming of the savages.

CHAPTER VIII.

Night—­Sagacity of the hounds—­Reflection—­The sneaking savages—­Joe’s disaster—­The approach of the foe under the snow—­The silent watch.

The night was beautiful.  The moon sailed through a cloudless sky, and the north wind, which had whistled loudly among the branches of the trees in the valley at the close of day, was hushed, and a perfect calm pervaded the scene.

“What’re you leaving your post for?” asked Sneak, as Joe suddenly abandoned his watch on the west side of the inclosure, and tripped across to Roughgrove.

“Mr. Roughgrove—­Mr. Roughgrove,” said Joe, in a low tone.

“Well, what do you want with me?” responded the old ferryman.

“I wanted to tell you that your two oarsmen are forgotten, and to ask you if we hadn’t better call to them to come up here, where they’ll be out of danger?”

“They are not forgotten,” said Roughgrove; “I sent them over the river to procure assistance, if possible.”

“Thank you.  I’m glad they’re out of danger.  I couldn’t rest till I found out something about them,” said Joe, retiring; but instead of resuming his watch, he slipped into the house.

“He’s at his old tricks agin,” said Sneak, when he observed him stealthily enter the door.  “Come out, I say!” he continued, in a loud voice.

“What is the matter?” interrogated Glenn, from his station on the north.

“Why, that feller’s crept into the house agin,” replied Sneak.

“Well, but he’s come out again,” said Joe, reappearing, and walking reluctantly to his loophole.

“What did you go in for?” demanded Glenn.

“I just wanted to tell Miss Mary that the two oarsmen that helped us to bury Posin were gone over the river, and were safe.”

“Did she ask for this information?” inquired Glenn.

“No, not exactly,” responded Joe; “but I thought if I was uneasy about the young men myself, that she, being more delicate than a man, must be considerably distressed.”