bodies."

"When will the redskins attack, do you think?" the farmer asked.

"We may expect 'em any time, now," the hunter answered. "The Injuns'
time of attack is generally just before dawn, but they know well
enough they aint likely to ketch us asleep any time, and, as they
know exactly what they have got to do they'll gain nothing by
waiting. I wish we had a moon; if we had, we might keep 'em out of
the stockade. But there--it's just as well it's dark, after all; for,
if the moon was up, the young ones would have no chance of getting
away."

The garrison now all took their places at the loop-holes, having
first carried the wet fodder to the roof and spread it over the
shingles. There was nothing to do now but to wait. The night was so
dark that they could not see the outline of the stockade. Presently a
little spark shot through the air, followed by a score of others. Mr.
Welch had taken his post on the tower, and he saw the arrows whizzing
through the air, many of them falling on the roof. The dry grass
dipped in resin, which was tied round the arrow-heads, was instantly
extinguished as the arrows fell upon the wet corn, and a yell arose
from the Indians.

The farmer descended and told the others of the failure of the
Indians' first attempt.

"That 'ere dodge is a first-rate un," Pearson said. "We're safe from
fire, and that's the only thing we've got to be afeared on. You'll
see 'em up here in a few minutes."