The first act of the corporal, on seeing how matters stood, was to pull back the bedstead behind which Cass was imprisoned, so as wholly to uncover him and his assailant, but the surprise of all may be imagined, when, instead of an Indian, with whom they believed him to be struggling, they beheld an immense turkey-cock, well known to them all, which was partly under the foot of the soldier—­partly in a boarded drain or reservoir which passed from the apartment into a large hog trough, that lay along the wall and daily received the refuse of the various meals.  The bird, furious with pain, was burying its beak into the leg of the soldier, while he, with the butt end of his musket aloft, and the bayonet depressed, offered the most burlesque representation of St. George preparing to give his mortal thrust to the dragon.

In spite of the danger by which they were beset, it was impossible for the men to restrain the indulgence of their humor at this singular sight, nor was the disposition at all checked, when they saw the bayonet descend and actually transfix the intruder to the floor-causing him to droop his head, and thus free Cass from his furious attacks.

“If that’s the way you kill your enemies, Nutcrackers, we promise to eat them up for you—­as many as you like,” and as he spoke, Green advanced and seized the dying bird by the throat; but as he pulled it suddenly away, a dark human hand was observed to relinquish its hold of the feet, and rapidly disappear.

The mirth of the men was now succeeded by a seriousness befitting the occasion, for it was clear to all that this occurrence, absurd as it was, had been the means of betraying a new plan of the enemy to get into the house.  If the drain was large enough to admit of the passage of the bird—­always remarkable for its size—­it was highly possible that some of the more slightly formed Indians, might force their way through it also.  They had evidently tried to see if it could be done—­the turkey-cock having been put forward as a “feeler,” and the necessity of either closing the avenue, or weakening their strength by keeping a man constantly on the watch, was now obvious.

“Find something to stop up that hole with Cass,” ordered the corporal.

“I can see nothing,” replied the other, after a few moments search, unless we stop it with the bedding.”

“A wise plan that.  The Injins would soon set fire to it, and if they didn’t burn us out, they would soon smoke us out.  Either would suit their purpose.”

“Let him stuff it with his head, corporal,” interposed Green, “I’m sure that’s thick enough for a plug.”

“Perhaps there’s a head in it already,” suggested Philips, “there was a hand just now—­the other may have followed.”

“By jingo I’ll try,” returned Green, “I’d give a week’s grog to be able to prick a feller with this playthin’”