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diff --git a/34558.txt b/34558.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91fadea --- /dev/null +++ b/34558.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3557 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Defending the Island, by James Otis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Defending the Island + A story of Bar Harbor in 1758 + +Author: James Otis + +Release Date: December 4, 2010 [EBook #34558] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEFENDING THE ISLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Zechariah Stover (ZechariahStover.com) + + + + + + Defending the Island. + + [Frontispiece: Friend or enemy? (see Chapter III.)] + + + + DEFENDING THE ISLAND + A STORY OF BAR HARBOR IN 1758 + BY + JAMES OTIS + + + Boston + DANA ESTES & COMPANY + PUBLISHERS + + + + + + _Copyright, 1904_ + BY DANA ESTES & COMPANY + _All rights reserved_ + + + CONTENTS + I. THE ISLAND + II. THE FIRST ASSAULT + III. A DAY OF SUSPENSE + IV. AN ATTACK + V. FIRE + VI. THE WRECK + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + Friend or enemy? (See Chapter III.) _Frontispiece_ + "'Indians skulking on the harbor island!'" + "The stout-hearted girl set about the task" + "Susan stood guard at the gateway" + "The children had improvised platforms" + "Mark saw a canoe put off from the Harbor Island" + "'You shall not have the smallest chicken inside this stockade!'" + "'Look! Look! A vessel!'" + "He returned with a heavy log" + "'Do you refuse to surrender?'" + "An instant later the entire party was in retreat" + "Susan's arm was being rebandaged" + "He reentered the house with a bucket two-thirds full of muddy water" + "Again the crash of thunder drowned all sounds" + "The next knowledge was that the women were trying to nurse him + back to life" + "He gazed at the struggling wretches on the bottom of the wreck" + + + + +Defending the island. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE ISLAND + + +In the year of grace 1758 there were two families living on that +island which we of to-day call Mount Desert; but Champlain named +Mons Deserts, because its thirteen high, rugged mountains could be +seen from the seaward a distance of twenty leagues, making it the +first landmark of the coast for seamen. + +It is said, by those gentlemen who write down historical facts for +us young people to study, that the "savages were much attached to +the island; for in the mountains they hunted bears, wildcats, +raccoons, foxes, and fowls; in the marshes and natural meadows, +beaver, otter and musquash; and in the waters they took fin and +shellfish." + +Now in the proper kind of a story there should be nothing which +savors of school-book study, and yet, before telling how the +children of these two families defended the island in 1758, it seems +much as if the reader would have a better idea of all that was done, +if he or she knew just a few facts concerning those who lived on +Mount Desert before Stephen Pemberton and Silas Harding took there +their wives and children to build for themselves homes. + +It is said, by those who busy themselves with finding out about such +things, that in the year 1605 Champlain stopped at the island and +named it; but not until four years later did any white people visit +the place. Then two Jesuit missionaries, who had been living at Port +Royal, under the protection of Monsieur Biencourt, went to Mount +Desert with the hope of converting the Indians to Christianity. + +How long these good men lived there, no one seems to know; but it is +certain that they went back to Port Royal quite soon, because, in +the year 1613, a Frenchman, by the name of La Suassaye, the agent of +Madame de Guercheville, a very rich and religious lady, visited Port +Royal, and persuaded the missionaries to return to Mount Desert, in +company with several French colonists. + +An Englishman by the name of Argall, who had come across the ocean +to drive away the French people from North America, in order to take +possession of the country in the name of his king, found the +settlers while they were yet living in tents, not having had time to +build houses. He robbed them of all their goods, afterward sending +them adrift in an open boat, to make certain they wouldn't encroach +on the land to which he believed they had no claim. + +The French people, after suffering severely, contrived to gain the +mainland, however, and before many months had passed returned to +Mount Desert, where they formed a settlement, which did not survive +the encroachments of the Indians, as is known from the fact that +when, in 1704, the great Indian fighter from Massachusetts, Major +Benjamin Church, rendezvoused at Mount Desert, before attacking the +Baron de Castine on Penobscot Bay, he found no person living there. + +In 1746 Stephen Pemberton and Silas Harding, with their wives, who +were sisters, and their children, emigrated from England to Acadia, +in Nova Scotia, hoping there to make better homes for themselves and +their little ones than could be had in their native land. Then came +the quarrels between the French and English, until Acadia was not a +very pleasant land in which to live, and these two settlers +determined to find an abiding-place where they might not be +literally overrun by the soldiers of two armies. + +Therefore it was that they built a small vessel, in which they could +carry all their household belongings, including two cows, three or +four pigs, and a flock of chickens, and started on a voyage that did +not come to an end until they were arrived at the island of Mount +Desert, near the mouth of what is now known as Duck Brook, within a +short distance of the present town of Bar Harbor. + +There the men built two small houses of logs, enclosed by a +palisade, which is a high fence formed by driving stakes into the +ground, for protection against the Indians, whom they had every +reason to fear. + +Here the two families lived in peace and comparative comfort until +the year 1758, and then there were children in plenty. + +Stephen Pemberton had in his family Mark, who was fifteen years old; +Luke, two years younger; Mary, aged eleven and John, a stout lad of +eight years. + +Silas Harding's children were Susan, who was fourteen years old; +Mary, four years younger, and James, who had lived seven years on +Mount Desert without having seen ten white people, save those +belonging to his own and Uncle Stephen Pemberton's family. + +Now after so many words which have not been strung together in a +very entertaining fashion, it is time to begin the story of what was +done by these children, with, as a matter of course, some assistance +from their mothers. + +Each summer, just before the work of harvesting should be begun, the +two men went out in the boat which had brought them from Acadia, to +catch fish enough for the winter's supply, and on this year they set +off early in September, with never a thought that any danger might +menace their dear ones after so many years of peace and comparative +prosperity. + +The children had work in plenty to keep them from idleness during +the week of ten days their fathers might be absent, and no sooner +had the little vessel sailed out of the harbor than they set about +their several tasks in order that all the labor might be performed +by the time the fishermen returned. + +Mark and Luke were engaged in setting up the flakes, or framework, +on which the fish were to be dried, and this labor was performed +near the shore of the harbor quite beyond sight of the homesteads +with the high palisade, which last hid from view all save the roofs +of the buildings. + +The _Future Hopes_, which was the name of the small vessel belonging +to the settlers, had left her moorings when the first gray light of +the coming day could be seen stealing over the waters, and while she +was yet close in-shore the two lads set about building the flakes, +counting on completing the task within three days, and to that end +working so industriously as to give little or no heed to what might +be passing around them. + +Therefore it was that they failed to see a canoe, in which were five +Indians, come swiftly up from the southward, past what is now known +as Pulpit Rock, and sail straight for the island at the mouth of the +harbor, which the people of to-day call Bar Island. + +Here the frail craft was hidden from view of the boys, and when half +an hour or more had gone by, another canoe, this one carrying six +men, executed the same maneuver. + +Five minutes later a third craft appeared, but just as she came in +view past the rock, Luke stood erect to drive in one of the stakes, +and, therefore, saw the strangers as they were evidently trying to +steal by without being seen. + +More than once since Luke could remember had Mount Desert been +visited by red men of the Abenakis tribe; but the visitors had +always approached boldly, like friends, and this skulking from rock +to island seemed much like a show of enmity. + +Certain it is that the lad was alarmed, but he understood, from what +his father had said many times, that it was not wise to let the +Indians know of his fear, and, continuing at the labor, he said, in +a low tone, to Mark: + +"Don't raise your head, nor look around. A canoe filled with +Abenakis has sneaked in behind the harbor island; can it be mischief +is intended?" + +"They may be after rock-cod, and count on coming ashore later," Mark +replied, continuing his work in such a fashion that he could look +seaward without seeming to do so. + +At this moment the occupants of the last canoe were moving around +the point of the island, as if to gain a position where a full view +of the buildings might be had, for there could be no possibility the +visitors were engaged in fishing, of any other such peaceful pursuit. + +"There's trouble of some kind, and it's for us to find out what," +Mark said, in a whisper. "There must have been other canoes than the +one you saw, for I have already counted eleven men on the island, +and they could not all have come in a single boat." + +The boys had had no experience, fortunately for them, in Indian +warfare, but they had heard enough from their parents to be fully +alive to the possibilities, and after a few moments, during which +time fear had held them speechless, Mark said, in a low tone, +although there was no chance the enemy could have heard him: + +"We must get over to the house without seeming to be running away. +You start first, and when you go through the gate, call out that +mother wants to see me." + +Luke obeyed leisurely, although his heart was beating so loudly and +heavily that it seemed as if it could be heard a long distance away, +and, arriving at the palisade, he summoned his brother, as had been +proposed. + +Then it was that Mark was at liberty to leave his work, and he +answered the summons more quickly, perhaps, than ever before in his +life. + +Mistress Pemberton was busily engaged inside the house, and the +other two children were in a small garden directly in the rear of +the building, therefore the boys were able to impart the +disagreeable tidings without alarming those who could be of little +or no assistance. + +"Indians skulking on the harbor island!" the good woman exclaimed, +when Mark had hurriedly told his story and her face paled as the +lads had never seen it before. + +"And they have chanced to come on the very day our father went +fishing!" Luke cried. + +"It wasn't chance that brought them, my son. Unless coming for some +evil purpose, they would have landed boldly, as they have done so +many times. It must be that the painted wretches have been watching +to learn when your father and uncle left the island! Ask your aunt +and Susan to come over her; the other children need not be told +until it is no longer possible to hold them in ignorance of what may +be done." + +Luke ran swiftly to the house, which stood hardly more than fifty +feet away, and in a twinkling Mistress Harding and her daughter +Susan were where they could hear what, to settlers in their +situation, was the worst possible news. + +[Illustration: "Indians skulking on the harbor island!"] + +Women who did their share in conquering the wilderness were not +cowardly, even though they might turn pale with apprehension when +the first note of danger was sounded, and there two, knowing it was +useless to expect aid from the outside, lost no time in planning a +defence. + +The palisade was weak in many places; more than one of the timbers +had decayed and fallen, for while the Indians from the near-by +mainland were friendly disposed, there seemed to be no good reason +why time and labor should be expended upon a means of defence which +might never be needed, and at this moment both the women bethought +themselves of such fact. + +"There may be time in which to strengthen the fence," Mistress +Harding suggested, and Mark, who considered himself as well-nigh +being a man grown, took the part of leader by saying, stoutly: + +"In can be done, aunt. Luke and I will get the timbers, and the +other children shall drag them out of the woods, coming into the +enclosure near the spring where the Indians cannot see them." + +"But surely we can do something to help the work along," his mother +said, quickly. + +"So you shall. We must know what the Indians are about, and you two +can take one of the small boys down near the shore. Stay there as if +bent on pleasuring, and, without seeming to do so, keep a sharp +watch on the harbor island. I will look after the rest." + +Boys who lived on the frontier in 1758 were accustomed to doing the +work of men, and very seldom was one found to be a coward. + +Now that danger in its most frightful form menaced, Mark Pemberton +understood that he must stand in the place of his father and uncle. +And there was no disposition on his part to shirk the +responsibility. He knew full well that there was no hope the +fishermen would return for at least a full week, therefore he must +work unaided, save as the women and other children might be able to +help him. + +The axes were near at hand; Mary Pemberton and Ellen Harding were +summoned from the garden, and the two younger boys sent with their +mothers to the shore. + +As the five young people went into the thicket, which had been left +standing in the rear of the dwellings that it might serve to break +the force of the north winds in the winter, the younger girls +learned of the painted peril on the harbor island, and Mark +explained his plan of defence, so far as he had formed one. + +The two boys set about their task feverishly, knowing that every +moment was precious, for no one could say when the attack might be +made; the only matter certain in the minds of all was that the +Indians had come bent on mischief, otherwise there would have been +no skulking on the island. + +The palisade, as originally built, stood six feet above the surface +of the land, and the posts were driven a good four feet into the +ground, therefore large timbers were necessary, and perhaps Mark was +the only member of the party who realized that when the work of +driving the logs in place was begun, the enemy would have a very +good idea of what was being done. + +The skulkers on the island must, as a matter of course, know that +they were discovered, and their purpose suspected, otherwise the +defences would not be in process of strengthening when the boys +should have been making ready for the curing of such fish as the +fishermen might bring in. + +Then was the moment when, possibly, the attack would be made, and +all preparations for resistance concluded before the first blow was +struck on the palisade. + +"There will be a moon to-night," Susan Harding said, quietly, and +Mark knew she was thinking of what might be expected after the sun +had set, therefore he replied, to encourage her: + +"Ay, Sue, the painted villains can't come across without showing +themselves for some time before gaining the beach, and Luke and I +should be able to warm their hides a bit." + +"I can shoot as well as you." + +"So you can, Sue and the worst part of it is that you must do your +share of the work." + +"Will you watch on the shore for them to-night?" + +"I think so. Luke and I can be there, while the rest of you are +inside." + +"I shall go with you," and the girl spoke as if demanding a part in +some scheme of pleasure. + +"Perhaps you can; we'll see what the plan shall be when night comes. +The fence may not be in shape then, and I'm hoping the Indians will +hold off for a darker night. That's about the only chance we've got +to save ourselves from being killed, or carried prisoners to Canada." + +"If they had landed on this island, they might have crept up without +our suspecting anything," Susan suggested, and Mark literally +trembled with fear, for thought came to his mind that possibly +another body of savages was on Mount Desert, counting on coming up +through the thicket when the attack was begun. + +However, as he said to himself a moment later, after struggling +manfully against this new fear which assailed him, that was a matter +which could not be guarded against, other than as the general +defences were strengthened, and it stood him in hand to think of +work rather than all which might happen. + +"Remember, I'm to take my place with you and Luke," Susan insisted, +and the lad, knowing she could be depended upon to use a musket +nearly as well as himself, replied: + +"So you shall, Sue; I promise to call on you as I would on Luke. +Here is the first timber," he added, as he struck the finishing +blows to the sharpened end of the log. "Drag it inside to the +weakest place in the fence, and take good care that you don't go +where any one on the harbor island can see you." + +Aided by Mary and Ellen, the stout-hearted girl set about the task +of carrying the heavy log, since that would be the quickest method +of getting it into place, and the boys plied their axes yet more +vigorously in order to have another timber in readiness when the +carriers returned. + +[Illustration: The stout-hearted girl set about the task.] + +"Take nothing smaller than six inches through the butt, and we'll +drive the tapering end into the ground," Mark cried, cheerily, as he +selected a second tree, and Luke had but just finished hewing his +log when the girls came for another load. + +"I ran down to talk with mother and aunt," Susan said, speaking with +difficulty because of her heavy breathing. "They have seen only one +Indian, who lies behind the big rock keeping watch, and he is +Sewattis, who came here for potatoes last winter." + +"And we gave him all he could carry away!" Mark exclaimed bitterly. +"Now he has come to try and murder us because we have ever been his +good friends." + +"Is there any war on the mainland?" Susan asked. + +"The captain of the last fishing-vessel father boarded told him that +an attack had been made by the French and Indians on the fort at St. +George last month, so I suppose England and France are still +fighting. If the two kings could be in our places just now, I reckon +there'd be an end of the war before nightfall." + +"It isn't three months since Master Peabody and his wife were killed +on Arrowsick Island, and the six children carried into Canada," +Luke suggested, grimly, and Mark cried, peremptorily: + +"Don't be digging up every horrible thing you can remember, for it +won't improve our courage, and we're like to need all we've got +between now and sunset. Here's another timber, Sue. Before you come +back again, get some idea of how many we're needing to put the fence +in shape." + +Luke would have talked of the murders which had been reported to the +settlers of the island by the fishermen, who were spoken from time +to time; but Mark bade him keep at his chopping, and in silence the +two worked until Susan, after an unusually long absence, returned. + +"There are seventeen logs missing," she reported, "and two more +which are decayed so badly that they should be replaced. I walked +slowly around the fence, and tried every one, to make certain it +stood firm." + +"We should be able to cut that number and get them in place before +the afternoon is very old," Mark replied, as he swung his axe yet +more vigorously. "Did you go down to the shore?" + +"Yes, and everything there is as it was before. Your mother thinks +it is a wicked waste of time for both to stay on guard, when it +would be possible for them to do so much toward helping in getting +out the timbers." + +"The moment will soon come when she can lend a hand, but just now +she is doing more good by staying where she is, for while those two +are idle the Indians will not suspect that we are strengthening our +defences. The other boys might help in dragging the logs down, Sue, +for we've got five or six ready." + +"Mary and I, with Ellen to steady them through the bushes, can soon +catch up with you, and the boys would be more bother than good," +Susan replied, as she raised one end of a heavy timber. + +During the next hour the five young people worked as industriously +as their elders could have done, and then Susan announced that her +mother was intending to make ready the noonday meal, for it was in +the highest degree necessary that those who were laboring so +energetically, and who would be called upon, perhaps, to spend the +night in watching, should have an ample supply of food. + +The boys ate dinner as they worked, Ellen bringing it out to them, +and, while Mistress Harding cooked for both families, Mistress +Pemberton remained on guard. + +During all that time very little had been learned regarding the +savages. Now and then a painted face had been seen momentarily from +behind one of the rocks on the harbor island; but nothing more, and +the defenders of the stockade had no means of knowing when the +attack might be expected. + +It was about two hours past noon when the boys had cut the necessary +number of timbers, and now was come the time when the enemy would +get an inkling that the settlers were making ready to defend +themselves. + +"You can't help us very much, Sue, when we are driving the posts +into place," Mark said. "Leave Ellen here, while you overhaul our +muskets. See to it that each one is loaded, and where we can get at +it readily. After that has been done, you had best stand by the +gateway to give the work if any move is made by the villains." + +Then the boys began the task of setting the timbers in place, +fearing each instant to hear the word that the savages were crossing +over from the small island. + +When the third timber had been driven in place, Mark said, grimly, +as he raised another stick to fit it into the palisade: + +"If they come now, we shall be in a bad scrape; but in case they are +foolish enough to wait until after dark, I reckon we can give a good +account of ourselves." + +In order to drive the logs sufficiently deep into the earth, to +prevent the possibility of their being pulled out by the foe, it was +necessary for one of the boys to stand on an up-ended cask, and +while in suck position a view of the tiny island at the mouth of the +harbor could readily be had. + +It was Mark who swung the heavy wooden maul, or mallet, and he +strove to keep his eyes fixed upon that point of land behind which +he knew the Indians lurked. + +To his great relief, no change was apparent in the position of the +enemy, although those in hiding must have known what was being done, +and the boys worked unmolested. + +After she had make ready the muskets for immediate use, Susan +stationed herself at the gateway of the palisade, with a weapon +leaning against the logs on the inside, watching intently, and after +half an hour had passed Mark called to her: + +"There's little chance now that they'll begin the mischief before +dark, if the noise of our pounding hasn't started them. Mother and +aunt may come back here and do some more cooking, for once the +Abenakis begin work we shall need to have all hands on duty. You can +keep an eye on the island from where you are." + +[Illustration: Susan stood guard at the gateway.] + +This change was welcomed by the women, who came up from the shore +quickly, stopping at the palisade to see how the lads were getting +along, when Mistress Pemberton said to Mark: + +"I have been thinking that we had better gather in one of the +buildings which can be barricaded on the inside, instead of trying +to occupy both." + +"It's a good idea, mother dear, and while you're making the changes, +see to it that we have plenty of water in the house." + +"What about the cows?" + +"We can't take the chances of going after them, for no one can say +that there are not more Indians hidden in the woods. If the beasts +come home, we'll have a mess of milk to help out on the supplies." + +Now it was that every member of the two families was actively +engaged, while Susan stood guard at the gateway. + +The Harding house was stripped of everything which could be readily +moved, and the rude furniture served admirably as a barricade for +the windows and one door of the Pemberton dwelling. + +The sun had not set when Mark had put the palisade into the best +condition possible with the materials at his command, and then, +after cautioning Susan to keep her eyes open very wide, the two boys +began making loopholes in the house which was to shelter both +families. This last was being done, as Mark explained to his mother, +that they might have a final place of refuge in case the Indians +succeeded in scaling the palisade. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FIRST ASSAULT + + +Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan +relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and +barred by Mark, who said to his cousin: + +"There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has +come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it +would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a +crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them." + +"Why am I to go off duty?" Susan asked. "Surely it can do us no harm +to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we +should act as if believing they might do so at any moment." + +"You are right, Sue, and I warrant you won't have many idle minutes. +Your mother and mine want all the children together while they pray +for the good God to help us, and surely He is the only one to whom +we can appeal now." + +The girl made no further parley, but marched directly toward the +Pemberton house, stopping very suddenly, however, as a low sound, +not unlike the call of a human being, was heard from the woods in +the rear of the dwellings. + +"There are the cows, Mark, and surely they must be brought inside +the enclosure if for no other reason than that we may need the milk +before those murderers--" + +Susan did not finish the sentence, for the thought had come that it +was not unlikely those who were skulking on the harbor island might +succeed in their purpose, as they had done so many times before when +setting forth to capture and to murder. + +"I'll go after the beasts, and you shall stand here to keep watch +over the harbor, for I am not minded to take the chances of being +surprised, ever though we have good reason to believe no mischief +will be attempted until late in the night." + +To this Susan would not agree. She insisted that, having been +charged with the care of the cows during so many years, they would +follow her more readily than any other, and it might be possible +something would happen to frighten them. + +Mark, who feared there were Indians hidden in the thicket, would +have prevented her from venturing out of the stockade; but she put +an end to the controversy by slipping through the gate immediately +he had opened it, and the lad could do no less than remain on guard +while she was absent. + +The animals followed the girl contentedly when she appeared before +them, even though they were not accustomed to being brought within +the enclosure during the warm season, and as they filed through the +gate Mark felt decidedly more comfortable in mind, for now, in case +they were able to hold the Indians in check, there was no +possibility of a lack of food if the siege should be prolonged. + +With the cows in the shed that served as stable during the winter +months, where was a plentiful supply of hay which had been made +during the summer, the children went into the house, which seemed +strangely changed by the addition of Mistress Harding's belongings +and preparations already made for defence. + +Nearly all the rude furniture was piled against the two windows and +one of the doors, and the beds had been spread on the floor where +they would best be screened from any stray bullets. A supply of fuel +was stacked up near the fireplace, to the end that it might be +possible to prepare food without necessity of going out of doors, +and, as Mark had suggested, every available vessel was filled with +water. + +When the three children, who had been doing such valiant work in +strengthening the defences, entered the building, they found the +women and smaller children gathered close beside each other as if +such near companionship lessened the danger, and Mark said, gently: + +"It is not well that we stay indoors many minutes, mother dear, for +much remains to be done before night has fully come." + +Then it was, and without delay, that Mistress Pemberton knelt amid +the frightened brood, pouring forth her supplications for strength +and guidance in this their time of peril, and the children listened +to the petition as they had never done before. It was as if the +prayer had a different meaning than ever before, for unless it +should be answered then was the time of suffering or of death come +very near. + +Even the youngest children understood that this was the only appeal +for help which could be made, and never a question was asked or a +word spoken when Mark, Luke, and Susan, rising to their feet +immediately the petition had been brought to a close went +out-of-doors muskets in hand. + +When they were in the open air once more Mark proposed that they +make such platforms behind the palisade as was practical with the +limited amount of material at hand, in order that, in event of an +attack, it would be possible to use their weapons with good effect +to prevent the enemy from scaling the barricade. + +Two up-ended casks formed as many stations, while at other points +the wash-benches, tubs, horses for wood-sawing, and household +utensils were piled up or pushed unto position at such height as +would afford a view of the harbor island and the intervening space. + +When this work had been completed the children had eight improvised +platforms whereon they could stand while defending the stockade, and +the night was fully come. + +[Illustration: The children had improvised platforms.] + +As Susan had said, the moon was in the third quarter, therefore it +would be impossible for the Indians to paddle across the waters of +the harbor without exposing themselves to the view of the island +defenders. + +It was a portion of Mark's plan that a guard should be stationed on +the shore, in full sight of those who might approach, and, in event +of an advance, the battle would be begun while the enemy was in the +canoes. + +This much he explained to his companions, as they stood by the gate +ready to face the more immediate danger to the end that their loved +ones might the better be protected, and he added, in conclusion: + +"After all we've seen it would be foolish to pretend we do not know +why the Abenakis have come, therefore when they put out from the +island, I shall hail them once, warning all hands to stay where they +are until the sun has risen, after which we will open fire, trying +to do the greatest possible amount of execution in order to show +what may be expected. I've got four of five charges of ammunition, +and if the rest of you have as much we shall be able to make quite a +showing." + +At that moment the noise of someone moving across the enclosure +startled the children; but an instant later they saw that Mistress +Harding was going toward the shed to milk the cows. + +"Now come on," Mark said, opening the gate after learning the cause +of his momentary alarm, and the children went boldly forth to do +battle--two boys and a girl who counted on defending the island +against fifteen or twenty savages. + +It was not to e supposed that the Indians, seeing the sentinels, +would come directly across from the island; but might be expected to +dart swiftly toward one or the other headlands, and therefore it was +that Mark divided his small force, sending Luke to patrol the +northern point, while he paced to and fro on the southern side of +the harbor where it was more reasonable to suppose a landing would +be attempted. Susan was to walk back and forth on the shore between +the two lads. + +Once this division of forces had been made, the children began their +vigil, on the alert for any suspicious noises either behind or in +front of them, for there was yet a possibility that a force of +Indians was already secreted near the stockade. + +No sooner had he begun to pace his beat than Mark realized to what +danger the occupants of the dwelling were exposed in case the +savages had already landed on Mount Desert, for the gate of the +palisade was unlocked and unguarded, and then Susan was sent back to +warn her mother and aunt that the entrance must be secured. + +When she returned to the shore it was with the report that the gate +was barred on the inside, and Mary Pemberton standing close beside +it in case the sentinels outside should be forced to beat a hasty +retreat. + +Now indeed had the lad done all within his power to protect those +whom he considered were entrusted to his charge, and it only +remained to keep careful watch for the first show of mischief. + +And this came in a manner wholly unexpected, although it seemed to +the young leader as if he had taken into consideration every method +which might be adopted by the savages. + +During three hours or more the children had paced to and fro on the +shore, each making certain meanwhile that the other two were on the +alert, and then Mark saw a canoe put off from the harbor island, +heading toward Pulpit Rock, as if to gain the shelter of that +headland before coming to land. + +Uttering a low cry to attract the attention of his companions, he +would have hurried on to the point in order to fire at least one +shot before the Indians could disembark; but at that moment an +exclamation from Luke caused him to gaze across the harbor, when he +saw a second canoe setting out toward the northward. + +A moment later a third craft was paddled straight across the water, +in the direction of Susan's post of duty. + +It seemed certain that the Abenakis understood how small and weak +was the force opposed to them, and therefore, counted on bringing +their bloody work to a speedy conclusion regardless of their +ordinary methods of warfare. + +[Illustration: Mark saw a canoe put off from the harbor island.] + +A landing would be made at three different places simultaneously, +and the young defenders must perforce give all their attention to +one party, leaving the others to do as they pleased, or, by +attempting to guard every point, place themselves in the greatest +possible danger. + +"Make ready to run for the house when I give the word," Mark cried +to his companions. "Come this way, Sue, and Luke, do the best you +can at peppering the canoe in front of us!" + +Susan speedily joined her cousin on the southerly side of the +harbor, while Luke stood his ground, but with the disagreeable +knowledge that in a few moments the savages would probably be +creeping up behind him. + +Now Mark understood that he could not afford to spend many moments +on this portion of the defence. It was necessary the three should be +inside the stockade before those who were landing at either point of +the harbor could come up within range, and he said to Susan: + +"We must get in our work quickly, for I reckon these villains in +front of us will take good care to move so slowly as to keep at a +safe distance until the others are ready for work." + +For reply the girl raised her musket on the crutch-like rest which +was used in those days, took careful aim, and pulled the trigger. + +It was possible to see the bullet as it struck the moonlit water, +hardly more than three paces in advance of the canoe, with its +freight of painted terrors, and instantly the Indians ceased +paddling, thus proving that they had no intention of coming within +range until their comrades from the other craft were in position to +prosecute their murderous work. + +"There is little sense in our staying here," Mark said, bitterly. +"Those scoundrels don't intend to give us any show at them, and we +are foolish if we remain. Yonder canoe put off boldly only to keep +us occupied until the others could make a landing." + +"Are we to go back?" Susan asked, striving to prevent a tremor of +fear from being perceptible in her voice. + +"Ay, it is high time. You start on ahead, and I'll call Luke." + +"I shall walk by your side," the girl said, stoutly. "We will share +the danger equally, as you promised." + +"You are a good girl, Sue; just the kind that will do a full half of +the work of defending the island," and Mark kissed her on the cheek +more tenderly than he had ever done before, as one would who was +whispering a final good-bye. + +"Close in, Luke; we must get back to the house; there's no show of +our being able to do anything here," Mark cried to his brother, as +he set the example by leading Susan in the direction of the stockade. + +The canoe came forward more swiftly as the little party of children +retreated; but it could be seen that its occupants did not count on +approaching within range, and Mark hastened his brother's movements +by shouting: + +"Run for it, lad! We must be in position behind the fence when the +brutes first come within view!" + +Then the three went toward the place of refuge at full speed, and +behind the gate, having been warned by the report of her cousin's +musket, Mary Pemberton stood ready to let down the heavy bar when +the little party was near at hand. + +The retreat had been begun none too soon, as was seen when the +children came within the enclosure, for while Mark was replacing the +bar which locked the gate, his mother, standing on one of the +improvised platforms, discharged a musket. + +"What have you seen?" the lad cried, as, the gate having been +fastened, he ran toward that portion of the stockade where was his +mother. + +"An Indian came out just beyond the dead tree, over there." + +"Did you hit him?" + +"I'm afraid not, Mark; I never could send a bullet straight, and am +now blaming myself for not having practiced more often after your +father insisted that the time might come when I would need to handle +a musket deftly." + +By this time Mark stood by his mother's side, peering cautiously out +over the top of the palisade, which was not a simple matter, since +he took the risk of presenting the enemy with a target. + +He could see nothing suspicious, and was yet peering eagerly around, +when the report of a musket rang out on the other side of the +stockade. + +It was Susan who fired the shot. At the same moment Mark clambered +up beside his mother, the girl had taken her station on one of the +casks at a point overlooking the thicket, and the result showed that +she had arrived there none too soon. + +"Did you see an Indian?" Luke asked, as he mounted one of the +wash-benches near the gate. + +"Ay, and hit him, too!" Susan replied, grimly, as she turned to +recharge her weapon; but Mistress Harding took the empty musket +from her hands, as she said: + +"Your aunt and I cannot shoot as well as you children; but we may, +at least, be of service in loading the guns." + +From this moment there was little delay in making the assault. +Contrary to their custom, the Abenakis pressed forward immediately +after the first shot was fired, doubtless hoping to gain an +advantage while the defenders were reloading the weapons, and each +of the three children fired two shots as rapidly as the muskets +could be handed to them. + +Three times had a piercing scream followed the report of the weapon, +thus telling that an equal number of bullets had hit the targets, +and then the savages became more cautious. + +Until this moment the Indians had not fired a shot; but now the +bullets began to whistle over the heads of those who were exposed to +view, as the Abenakis, themselves screened by the bushes, began the +real attack. + +"Be careful of yourselves!" Mark cried, forgetting to set his +companions an example. "Keep down behind the posts as much as +possible; we can count on their staying under cover while doing so +much shooting!" Then, turning to his mother, he added, "There is no +reason why all the children should be out-of-doors, where a stray +bullet may find them. Why not order them into the house?" + +This Mistress Pemberton did, and when the younger members of the +company were in comparative safety, Mark looked anxiously around at +his army of two. + +Luke was crouching behind the palisade, where a wide crevice between +two of the posts afforded him a view of the outside without his +being obliged to expose himself, and Susan was leaning against the +timbers, only partially sheltered, as she appeared to be tying +something around her arm. + +"What are you doing, Sue?" Mark cried, in alarm. + +"Standing guard here; but just now I can't see anything that looks +like an Indian." + +"What is the matter with your arm?" + +"It's only a scratch," the girl replied, in a matter-of-fact tone. +"It bleeds a little, and I've wrapped a piece of my gown around it." + +"You're wounded!" Mark cried, and he made as if to jump down from +the platform, when Susan said, sharply: + +"Stay where you are! Even though I was hurt badly, which I'm not, +you have no right to leave the fence unguarded." + +Mark stepped back with a certain sense of shame that it had been +necessary for Susan to remind him of his duty, and then Mistress +Harding went to her daughter's side. + +"It is a slight wound on the left arm," the good woman said, after +insisting on an examination of the injury. "I will take her to the +house while I tie it up properly, and Ellen may stand here in her +place." + +"But Ellen can't use a musket as well as I, and we're needed here," +Susan cried, more concerned lest she be forced to leave her station +at the palisade than on account of the wound. + +Mistress Harding might have insisted on her daughter's going into +the building if at that moment the assault had not been renewed, and +during the next ten minutes the defenders were actively employed. + +The Indians, profiting by the teachings and example of the +Frenchmen, whose allies they were, had divided the force, a portion +remaining hidden in the thicket to fire at the children, while the +remainder made a rush for the gate, as if believing it might be +forced open. + +Now it was that the defenders were obliged to move quickly, and it +was impossible for them to remain under cover all the while. + +"Pour all the fire into those fellows who are coming up with the +log!" Mark cried, as half a dozen Abenakis, carrying a heavy +tree-trunk, to be used as a battering-ram, made ready to advance at +full speed. + +This command was obeyed with such good effect that three of the +savages fell, and their fellows, dropping the timber, ran to cover +with the greatest possible haste. + +At the same moment the children fired, the Indians in hiding +discharged their weapons, detonations being echoed and reechoed +from mountain to mountain, until it sounded as if a severe +engagement was in progress. + +"Any one hurt?" Mark cried, and Susan and Luke replied cheerily in +the negative. + +One of the three Indians wounded while advancing with the tree-trunk +succeeded in crawling off to the shelter of the underbrush; but the +other two remained where they had fallen. + +When, two or three minutes later, an Abenakis darted out from his +place of concealment, Mark raised his weapon quickly; but Susan +cried, warningly: + +"Don't fire! It can do us no harm if they take away the wounded, and +it's possible they'll go back to the harbor island, if the injured +can be carried off!" + +"I'm beginning to think it is you who should be in command here," +Mark said, half to himself, as he lowered his weapon. "You've got +more sound sense than Luke and I together." Then, raising his voice, +he cried, loudly, "Listen, ye Abenakis, whom our fathers have fed +when you were hungry, and sheltered when you were cold, but who +would murder us now! Take away your wounded, if you are minded to go +back to the harbor island, and no one shall harm you while so doing. +The white men of Mount Desert have never broken faith with you, nor +will we, their children." + +Then was done that which proves how much stranger than fiction is +truth. The Abenakis, although they had come there to kill or make +prisoners the wives and children of those men who had ever been +their friends, did not question the faith of the lad when he +announced that they might bear off the wounded in safety, but boldly +advanced within short range to the aid of their fellows. + +"Why do you seek to kill us, who have never done you harm?" Mark +cried, when four of the band stood in full view while lifting the +wounded from the ground. "Do Indians kill their friends? Do they +speak soft words only while the men of the family are at home, being +too cowardly to make an attack until the fathers have gone away?" + +There was no reply to this speech until the Indians were hidden once +more by the bushes, and then a voice cried: + +"Give us the cow and two boys. Then we will go away, telling the +Frenchmen that all have been killed." + +"You shall not have the smallest chicken inside this stockade!" Mark +cried, angrily. "And I promise that there shall be few left to +report to the cowardly Frenchmen, if you remain here very long. You +shall be shot down like dogs, and from this out our squaws will not +interfere to let you carry off those who have been crippled!" + +While speaking, Mark had unconsciously raised himself to his full +height, instead of being partially sheltered by remaining in a +crouching position, as during the short fight, and the reply to his +words came in the form of bullets, one of which grazed his cheek, +raising a red ridge, as if he had been scored by a whip-lash. + +Susan and Luke both fired in the direction from which had been seen +the flash of the muskets, but no one could say if the missiles thus +sent at random took effect. + +Five minutes later, while the watchers still gazed through the +crevices of the palisade, believing the enemy to be near at hand, a +canoe was seen putting off from the shore, directly in front of the +dwellings, and, after such delay as was necessary, in order to +enable them to reach the other craft, all three divisions of the +attacking force were headed for the harbor island. + +[Illustration: "You shall not have the smallest chicken inside this +stockade!"] + +The first assault had been made, and successfully resisted. It now +remained to be seen whether the Abenakis were willing to accept this +as defeat, of if new tactics were to be tried. + +"They've gone!" Susan cried, joyfully. "We've beaten them!" + +"Yes child," her mother said, despondently, "and if they had not +been sent by Frenchmen, we might believe the worst was over." + +"Do you think they'll come back, Mark?" the girl cried, as she +leaped down from her post of duty. + +"Ay, that I do, Susan, and for the very reason aunt has given. If we +could only know what the next move would be! I have heard father say +that once upon a time the English drove away from Mount Desert +French settlers, and now those who are stirring the Indians up to +this kind of business are trying to make things even. We can count +on having peace during the rest of the night, I believe, and the +sooner you go into the house, were that wound of yours can be looked +after, the better I shall be pleased." + +Indeed, there was no good reason why all the defenders, save one to +stand guard behind the palisade, should not get such repose as might +be had under the circumstances. + +A sentinel, on one of the hastily constructed platforms, could keep +the harbor island well in view, therefore the savages would not be +able to leave it secretly, and Mark proposed that he remain on duty +for a certain time, while the others slept. + +"You shall have my place in a couple of hours, Luke." the lad said +to his brother. + +"And when do I take my turn?" Susan asked, showing that she was +determined to do a full share in the defence, regardless of her +wound. + +"You may stand guard when it is time for Luke to lie down," Mark +replied, intending that she should not be awakened if he could +prevent it. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DAY OF SUSPENSE + + +While Mark stood on guard, able to see the entire broad expanse of +water, thanks to the light of the moon, he knew that so long as a +careful watch was kept the Abenakis could not leave the harbor +island secretly; but he also realized that if the clouds should +gather, or a fog settle down over the waters, then, of a verity, +would they be at the mercy of a foe from whom no mercy could be +expected. + +The fact that they had been able to resist the first assault did not +give him encouragement for the future. The Indians had advanced +foolishly, understanding that the white people knew full well what +they were about, and after this first repulse it was reasonable to +suppose the murderous scoundrels would bring all their cunning into +play when the next attack was made. + +There were six muskets in the stockade, and ammunition sufficient to +last during an ordinary siege, provided none was wasted, yet but +three persons--Susan, Luke, and himself--could be depended upon to +man the walls. The others would have served faithfully, of that +there was no question; but none of them were so expert with a musket +as to be counted on for any great execution. + +Although the lad would not have admitted as much to either of his +companions, the fear in his heart that the enemy might succeed in +accomplishing his purpose was very great. + +"We can count on it that at the next attack they will succeed in +getting inside the palisade," he said, unconsciously giving words to +his thoughts, and he started almost in alarm as a familiar voice +behind him asked, reproachfully: + +"If you lose heart, how can the rest of us be expected to show +courage?" + +"What are you doing out here, Sue?" he asked, in turn, not minded to +answer her question, if it could be avoided. + +"I've come to take Luke's place. He is sleeping so soundly that it +is a pity to awaken him, and the pain in my arm keeps my eyes open +very wide." + +"But I haven't been here two hours yet." + +"Nearly half that time has passed since you came on duty, and there +is no reason why you should remain awake when it's impossible for me +to sleep. I can keep a sharp watch." + +"So you can, Sue; but it is my place to take the biggest end, and I +don't fancy the idea of letting a woman do my work." + +"If I could go to sleep it would be different; but since I can't, I +shall stay here, therefore you might as well take advantage of the +opportunity." + +Mark made no move toward leaving the platform, from which he could +have a full view of the harbor, and, seeing that he was not disposed +to act upon her suggestion, Susan clambered up beside him. + +"Now tell me what you meant by saying that the next time they come +the Indians will get inside the fence?" + +"There's no sense in talking about that. I didn't count on speaking +aloud." + +"You did, however, and now it will be treating me no more than +fairly if you tell me exactly what is in your mind." + +Mark had no desire to discuss the situation just then, when it +looked very dark to him, and, in order to avoid answering the +question, he proposed to take advantage of Susan's proposition. + +"Since you are determined to stay here, I may as well get what sleep +I can. Call Luke when you are tired," He said, and before she could +detain him he had slipped down from the improvised platform, walking +rapidly toward the dwelling. + +The girl could do guard duty as well as either of her cousins, and +was eager to perform a full share of the labor devolving upon those +who were striving to hold the savages in check. Perhaps she +magnified the pain of her wound in order to be allowed to take +Mark's place, and, if such was the case, the defence would be in no +wise weakened through her. + +Until the first faint light of a new day could be seen did Susan +Harding stand on the narrow platform, watching eagerly for any signs +of life from the harbor island, and unable to change her position, +save by taking two or three paces to the right or left. Even then +she would have remained on duty longer, but that Mark came hurriedly +out of the house crying, angrily: + +"It was not fair for you to stay on watch all night, Sue! You the +same as promised to call Luke when you were tired." + +"I didn't really agree, and I'm not tired yet. There's no need of +your coming up here, for now that it is daylight, Ellen can be +trusted to keep a lookout over the island." + +"When she has eaten her breakfast I will let her take my place," +Mark replied, as he literally forced the girl to descend, and a few +moments later all the occupants of the stockade were astir. + +The cows were milked, but kept within the enclosure, the young boys +feeding and watering them. The hens were allowed to stray here or +there at will, and, save for the sentinels on the palisade, one +might have thought that the scene presented there represented +perfect peace and happiness. + +When the morning meal had been prepared, Ellen Harding took Mark's +station on the stockade, being enjoined by him to keep her eyes +fixed constantly on the harbor island, without heeding what might be +happening around her, as the little company gathered in the +Pemberton house, where thanks were given for their preservation +during the night. + +While breakfast was in progress no reference was made to the danger +which menaced; it seemed as if the women feared to alarm the younger +children, and the three to whom the defence of the island had been +committed were not desirous of starting a conversation which might +lead up to the possibilities of the future. + +Susan was forced to submit to a second treatment of her wound, as +soon as the meal had had come to an end, and Mistress Harding +peremptorily insisted on her going to bed, since she had not closed +her eyes in slumber during the night just passed. + +Mistress Pemberton set about melting lead for bullets, the store of +missiles being smaller than that of powder, and Mark and Luke went +out to make a more thorough examination of the palisade. + +"It isn't very likely that the Abenakis will make any move during +this day," the elder lad said, "and while Ellen is standing watch it +would be wicked to lose any chance of making our position yet more +secure." + +Luke was ready to act upon his brother's suggestion, but appeared to +have no desire for conversation, and Mark did not urge him to talk, +for the same reason that had caused him to hold his peace during the +breakfast hour. + +There was much that had been overlooked during the hurry and +excitement of the previous day, which could be done to strengthen +the palisade, as, for example, driving stakes at the foot of such +posts as were not standing firmly, and securing the tops of others +with braces on the inside. + +In order to do a portion of this work, it was necessary the lads +should go into the thicket for material; but while Ellen remained on +watch to give the alarm, in case she saw any signs of life on the +harbor island, they did not hesitate to leave the stockade. + +It was while they were chopping down small trees in the rear of the +dwellings, that the flock of fourteen sheep came in sight, and these +Mark decided to drive into the enclosure. + +It would be a serious blow to the settlers if these wool-growers +should be killed by the enemy, for it might be a difficult task to +replace them, and without the fleeces each summer the children would +be destitute of materials for clothing. + +By catching the leader of the flock, and dragging him along by the +horns, the lads had little trouble in getting the animals within the +stockade, and Mark announced his success by saying, in a tone of +mild triumph: + +"The family is all behind one fence now, and unless the Abenakis get +inside, they can't do us a great deal of harm." + +"But the sheep will pull heavily on our store of hay," Luke +suggested, and his brother replied, cheerily: + +"They can pick up a good bit around the place, and it won't do any +very great harm to let them go hungry now and then. It's better than +taking good chances of losing the whole drove." + +There was no further discussion as to the advisability of bringing +the sheep into the stockade, for at that moment a cry from Ellen +caused both the boys to run, with all speed, to her side. + +"Look! Look! A vessel! It must be that fishermen are coming here, +and now the Indians will be driven away!" + +[Illustration: "Look! Look! A vessel!"] + +To their great surprise and delight, the boys saw a small schooner, +coming as if from the mainland on the northward, heading directly +for the harbor island. + +"We're saved, God be thanked!" Mark cried, in a tone so loud as to +be heard by the inmates of the house, all of whom came swiftly +toward him to learn the cause of the fervent exclamation. + +"What is it, my son?" Mistress Pemberton asked, sharply, and Luke +shouted, as he pointed seaward: + +"A fishing-vessel, mother, and those on board must soon know that +the Indians are besieging us!" + +"But she appears to be going directly to the harbor island! The crew +should be warned, lest the Abenakis make an attack upon them!" + +This possibility had not entered Mark's mind; but while his mother +was yet speaking he darted out of the stockade, running with all +speed to the shore, waving his arms and shouting, to attract the +attention of the newcomers. + +He was followed by the two families, including Susan, who had been +awakened by the joyful cries, and the little party ran swiftly along +the beach until they were come to the nearest point of the island, +which was the small bluff, or incline, on the westernmost end. + +Here it was possible to have in view the schooner's deck, and that +their signals had been seen seemed positive, although no attention +was taken of them. + +"Had you not better pull out in the small boat?" Mistress Pemberton +asked of Mark, when the strangers failed to pay any heed to the +gestures of warning. "It would be dreadful if the men went on shore +and were murdered!" + +There seemed to be no reason why the lads should not visit the +vessel, and, in fact, such an idea had entered Mark's mind before +his mother spoke, but yet he hesitated to act upon her suggestion, +although it would have been impossible for him to explain why he +remained idle. + +"The schooner carries a big crew for a fisherman," Susan said, +thoughtfully. "There must be as many as twenty-five or thirty on her +deck." + +"She's no fisherman!" Mark cried, becoming perplexed as he observed +the truth of what Susan had said. "So many people never could work +on a craft of that size." + +"But what else can she be?" Luke asked, curiously, "I don't know as +it makes much difference to us, though, so long as she carries a +crew of white people. Why don't we pull out to her, Mark? Look, +she's coming to anchor, and if her crew lands without knowing of the +Abenakis, they will all be killed!" + +"There are the Indians!" Susan cried, as three canoes, filled with +savages, were seen putting out from the shore. + +"They are going to make an attack on the vessel, and we can do +nothing to help the poor people!" Mistress Pemberton cried, in an +agony of grief, while an expression of terror overspread Mark's face +as he began to have an inkling of the true situation. + +"Can't you boys do something to aid the men?" Mistress Harding +asked, and Mark replied: + +"It isn't likely they're needing any help. Those on the vessel +outnumber the Abenakis three to one, and I'm afraid they won't have +any trouble in taking care of themselves." + +No one save Susan gave any particular heed to Mark's words, but +watched with feverish interest as the canoes approached the vessel, +and then, when the Indians clambered aboard without any attempt +being made to prevent them, the expression of the face of the +spectators changed from that of sympathy to perplexity. + +"The Abenakis seem to know the fishermen," Mistress Pemberton said +to herself, and Mark replied, bitterly: + +"Ay, mother, that they do, and now, instead of being called upon to +defend ourselves against Indians only, we shall have that crowd of +Frenchmen against us!" + +"God forbid that white people could attack women and children!" +Mistress Harding cried fervently, and Mark added: + +"He hasn't forbidden it so far, aunt. Don't you remember what father +and uncle heard from those aboard of the last vessel they spoke +with? They were told that when Master Peabody and his wife were +murdered, there were ten French soldiers with the Indians." + +"Can it be that they have come to aid the savages against us?" and +Mistress Harding's face grew pale. + +"Ay, that is the way the French king fights us in this country, and +if we are murdered it will be because his agents have decided upon +it in revenge for that which was done here so many years ago to the +missionaries!" + +And now while the little party of besieged stands on the shore +facing this new and unexpected peril, suppose we set down that +which Mr. Williamson wrote in his "History of Maine." + +"A communication was received at Boston in August, 1758, from +Brigadier-General Monkton, stationed in Nova Scotia, which stated +that a body of Frenchmen, in conjunction with the Indians of the +rivers St. John, Penobscot, and probably Passamaquoddy, were +meditating an attempt upon the fort at St. Georges, and the +destruction of all the settlements on the coast." + +"Immediately Governor Pownal collected such a military force as was +at command, and embarked with them on board the King George, and the +sloop Massachusetts. Arriving, he threw these auxiliaries with some +warlike stores into the fort at a most fortunate juncture; for +within thirty-six hours after the departure the fort was actually +assailed by a body of four hundred French and Indians." + +"But so well prepared was the garrison to receive them, that they +were unable to make the least impression. Nor did any +representations of their numbers, nor any threats, communicated to +the fort by a captive woman, whom they purposely permitted to escape +hither, occasion the least alarm. Hence, the besiegers gave vent to +their resentiments and rage by killing the neighboring cattle, about +sixty of which they shot or butchered." + +It was well for the little families who were so sorely beset that +they remained in ignorance of what the French assisted by the +Indians of several tribes, were trying to do, otherwise their +despair would have been even greater than it was as they watched +the reception of the Abenakis by those on board the schooner. + +It will never be known whether this attack on Mount Desert was made +in revenge for what had been done by Argall to the French +missionaries; but certain it was that all the settlements on the +coast, large or small, had been marked for destruction under the +guise of legitimate warfare. + +During five minutes or more, while the besieged watched the +movements on the deck of the schooner until there was no longer any +question but that the number of their enemies had been largely +increased, not a word was spoken, and then Mistress Harding broke +the painful stillness by exclaiming: + +"There is nothing left us to do but submit! With French soldiers at +hand, it is not probable the savages will be allowed to murder their +prisoners, and to surrender the island is better than being killed!" + +"The French have never done anything toward preventing the Indians +from working their will on the helpless captives. Do you remember +the story father tells of Falmouth, when these same Frenchmen +pledged their words of honor that no blood should be spilled, and +yet many of those who surrendered were murdered in cold blood?" + +"But what other can we do save give ourselves up?" Mistress Harding +cried, helplessly, and Susan stepped proudly by the side of Mark, as +he replied, stoutly: + +"We can fight to the last, and die with muskets in our hands, +instead of going willingly to meet the scalping-knife or the +tomahawk. It may be that those on the mainland will learn what is +being done here, and come to our relief." + +"Do not put faith in such a possibility, my son. It is better to +face the worst than build on hopes which must be dashed," and +Mistress Pemberton laid her hand on Mark's shoulder as if in pride +because of the courage he displayed. "We will do battle against +these people, white and red, and when our best has been done, the +end will be no worse than if we submitted tamely." + +"That's the way to put it!" Mark cried, kissing his mother's hand. +"We had planned to defend ourselves against the savages, and now let +us see what shall be done since they have had such a large +reinforcement. Certain it is that we must not stand here, for they +may have muskets aboard the schooner which will carry a ball farther +than ours." + +Mistress Pemberton led the way back to the stockade, and there, in +the open air near the gateway where a close watch might be kept over +both the island and the vessel, she commended the little party to +the care of Him who watches over even the sparrow's fall. + +It was to the distressed company as if the entire situation had been +suddenly changed; as if their means of defence were totally +inadequate, leaving them to the mercy of the French and Indians, who +were making the attack simply because the King of England and the +King of France had sundry differences of opinion, which might be +settled by spilling the blood of innocent people. + +Susan, who had been the most courageous, seemed to have grown +timorous when she asked, while she and Mark were where the words +could not be overheard: + +"What shall we do? Is there any hope we can hold back such a force +as is being arrayed against us?" + +"It doesn't seem possible, Sue, and yet we must fight to the last, +rather than give over our mothers and you girls to what we know will +follow if we show the white feather." + +"I am not afraid of your ever doing anything of that kind, Mark," +and the girl laid her hand on his shoulder with a loving gesture. +"You will always be brave and true; but what I am asking is whether +we may do anything which, as yet, has not been tried." + +"I exhausted all my ideas in arranging for a defence against the +Abenakis, and now we must stand up like images, fighting until we +are destroyed. Anything is better than tame surrender, when we know +by the terrible experiences of others what will follow." + +"In that I am of your mind, Mark, dear; but I am asking if there +isn't something else, which, as yet, we have neglected, that can be +done. Our mothers depend on you, as do I, which is only natural, +since you are the eldest, and should of right take your father's +place." + +"It is just that, Sue dear, which causes me to be afraid of my own +ideas. If I make a mistake, it may be fatal to you all, for you will +follow my advice." + +"That is true, Mark, and yet you should not be timid because of it, +for you are best fitted to act the part of leader, and we know full +well you will only do that which seems safest." + +"Are you agreed that we cannot surrender?" and Mark asked the +question in an angry tone, as if expecting she would refuse to view +the situation in the same light he did. + +"Of course I am. Could I say otherwise after all the stories we have +heard from the mainland?" + +"Then we must fight?" + +"Of course, and to the last. I would rather see mother and the +children killed by musket-balls, than to have them fall unharmed +into the hands of those who await us there," and she motioned toward +the harbor island. "How long can we hold the stockade against such a +force?" + +"Four and twenty hours, it may be, and a much shorter time if you, +or Luke, or I should be killed early in the fight." + +"And we will hope that our fathers do not come back until all is +over." + +"Ay, Sue dear, that is what we must hope, unless we would have them +come in time to meet their death. Two more men on the stockade would +not greatly prolong the struggle, and I fail to see how they, +without other aid, could help us very much." + +"If it should be, Mark dear, that I am wounded again, will you see +to it that the Indians do not take me prisoner?" + +"Ay, Sue, though the moment will be a terrible one when I turn my +musket against you; but it shall be done." + +"And if you are left until the last you will see that the children +are not taken alive?" + +"If I am left, Sue dear, it shall be as the last of our families on +the island, for I believe death is more pleasant than can be life in +the hands of such as those who are counting soon to hold us in their +power." + +Then the two children kissed each other as if in a last farewell, +and Mark, trying to assume a careless air, said, with a feeble +attempt at a smile: + +"Since you were the last to awaken, it is no more than fair you +should be among the first on duty. You, Luke, and I will stand guard +alone until the attack is made, as we can count it will be this +night, and then our mothers must charge the muskets. Remember, Sue +dear, that I haven't yet despaired of holding the whole wicked crew +in check. It doesn't seem possible that God would withhold His hand +while we are being beaten." + +"And yet it has been that many people in this country, whose cause +was as just as ours, have been overcome by the same merciless foe +who await us." + +"Ay, Sue, and since we can only take what comes as stoutly as decent +English people should, we'll seem to be brave, however timorous our +hearts may become when the last moment is at hand." + +Then these two children, striving to fill the places of their +parents, began that vigil which both believed would be ended with +their death. + +Mark made the announcement to his mother and aunt, after the gate +had been shut and closely barred, that they and the children should +remain in the dwelling until the moment came when they could be of +assistance in loading the weapons, and in the meanwhile the task of +guarding the stockade would devolve upon his brother, cousin, and +himself. + +"We are not so much worse off than before, except that many more +will come against us," he said, as the women and children went +toward the Pemberton house. "We shall fight until the last, and, if +God is kind, it may be we can hold the villains in check four and +twenty hours, if no more. Get what rest you can, and remember that +tears are of no avail when bullets are needed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AN ATTACK + + +When the women and smaller children were inside the dwelling, Mark +said to his companions: + +"It is better to have something in the way of work on hand than +remain idle, and it has come into my mind that we might improve our +condition if we raised the top of the stockade so that we could +stand on the platforms without being seen by those outside." + +"How would you set about it?" Luke asked, with mild curiosity. + +"A heavy timber might be made fast to the top of the palisade, and, +by making loopholes between the upper ends of the logs, we would be +hidden from view, and at the same time be able to keep watch." + +"Do you count that we should go after logs, taking the chances that +the enemy will make a landing right away?" + +"I intend to go alone, while you and Susan stand guard. Shout if you +see a single boat putting off from the harbor island, and then I can +get inside the enclosure before the enemy will be able to paddle +over here." + +Mark did not wait to learn if his companions had any criticism to +make on his proposition, but set off in search of the axe without +delay, and the others had no choice but to mount guard. + +[Illustration: He returned with a heavy log.] + +When the lad went through the gate he directed that it be barred +behind him, lest there might be Indians in the thicket, and a few +moments later it was possible to hear the sound of his sturdy blows +as he felled the trees. + +In less than half an hour he returned with a heavy log that had been +squared on one side, and, after having been given admittance, he +laid this on the posts above the platform on which Susan was +stationed. By chopping either side of the uprights, close to the +top, he made V-shaped apertures of sufficient size to admit of a +musket-barrel being thrust through, thus forming five or six +loopholes for the sentinel. + +Therefore it was one could remain on the platform without being +exposed to view of the enemy directly in front, and such shelter +would be of great value to the defenders while the attacking party +was a short distance away. + +By means of wooden pins Mark secured the log in place, although not +very firmly, and the three children who were to defend the stockade +believed their position had been decidedly strengthened by such a +device. + +Another hour was spent in felling trees, fitting the timbers, and +putting them in place. Then Mark occupied himself with making a +careful examination of every portion of the palisade, after which, +he said, with a long-drawn sigh: + +"I can think of nothing else that is likely to improve the defences, +and it only remains to wait until the enemy is ready to begin +operations. What has been done aboard the schooner?" + +"Many of the men have gone ashore on the harbor island," Luke +replied. "The sails are furled, and everything snugged down as if +for a long stay." + +"Have you seen the Abenakis?" + +"Two or three of them yet remain aboard the schooner; but the larger +number are on shore." + +Then Mark clambered up on one of the platforms, straining his eyes +to learn what the strangers were doing with the hope of being able +to make some guess as to when another attack would be made; but in +this last he was unsuccessful. The men were lounging on the vessel, +or ashore, as if their only purpose was to pass the time pleasantly, +and utterly heedless as to whether they were seen by those inside +the stockade. + +"Whoever is in command of the Frenchmen will direct the next +assault," Mark said, sufficiently loud to be heard by his companions +at their several posts of duty. "It is known that we count on +defending ourselves, and we may expect to see the entire force +before us within the coming ten or twelve hours." + +"What about the powder?" Luke asked. + +"We have none too much; but enough, I believe, if we are careful in +making every shot count, to last us during two assaults. After that, +if we're alive, there'll be a short allowance." + +"A boat is putting off from the schooner, and heading this way," +Susan announced, and the boys gave no further heed as to +speculations regarding the future, for it seemed as if the enemy was +about to begin operations. + +In a very short time, however, it could be understood that there was +no danger of an immediate attack, for the craft coming shoreward +from the vessel was a canoe in which were but three men. + +The sentinels were unable to understand the meaning of this +movement. It did not seem probable the enemy counted on boldly +reconnoitering the island, nor was it reasonable to suppose any +attack was to be made with so small a force, and Mark said, in +perplexity: + +"I can't make out why they are coming; but we'll be ready for +whatever turn affairs may take." + +"Shall we fire on them if they get too near?" Susan asked. + +"Unless they claim to be friends, which isn't likely, we'll treat +them exactly as we would the Abenakis, if they were bold enough to +land in broad day," Mark replied, and, as assurance of his +intentions, he made certain his musket was ready for immediate use. + +The strangers paddled directly toward the spot where were kept the +boats of the settlers, beached the canoe, and straightway approached +the stockade, as friends might have done. + +The three children on guard watched the newcomers curiously, until +they were within fifty or sixty paces of the gate, and then Mark +hailed: + +"It will be safer to halt where you are until we understand the +reason for this visit," he cried, showing himself above the +palisade, with musket in hand. + +"Are you in command of the stockade?" one of the visitors asked, as +all three came to a full stop. + +"Ay, for the time being." + +"How many have you in garrison?" one of the newcomers asked, as he +advanced a single pace, to show that he was authorized to act as +spokesman for his party. + +"That is for you to find out," Mark replied, with a smile. "You must +take us for simples, if it is in your mind that we will give all the +information demanded." + +"I did not ask to gain information, for we know exactly the number +of women and children here. I desired that you yourself should state +it in order to the better understand how entirely you are at our +mercy," The man said, and his manner of speech told that he was +French. + +"I do not need to repeat it, having seen your force, and knowing my +own full well." + +"Then you can understand that when I offer good quarter if you +surrender without resistance, it should do away with any necessity +for a conflict." + +"Are you ready to give the same quarter your people promised at +Falmouth, when the defenceless prisoners were murdered by you +Frenchmen?" Mark cried, angrily. + +"I give you my word of honor as a soldier, than no one shall be +harmed if you surrender this place immediately," the officer +replied, sharply. + +"If I have heard rightly, the Baron de Castine gave the same pledge +at Falmouth, and afterward excused himself by saying that he could +not restrain the Indian allies," Mark said, stoutly. "Since then it +is difficult to believe that French officers have any too much +honor; otherwise, perhaps, they would not fight side by side with +savages." + +"Do you refuse to surrender?" the visitor asked, angrily. + +[Illustration: "Do you refuse to surrender?"] + +"Ay, that I do, and all here are of the same mind with me. It is +better to die fighting than be put to the torture by your allies, +whom, mayhap, you could not restrain." + +"My force is so large that you will be crushed in a twinkling, and, +if you resist, no mercy may be expected. I have come in the effort +to save your lives." + +"Why should it be necessary?" Mark asked. "What have we done that +you strive to take possession of our homes?" + +"That is not a question to be discussed," the officer replied, +impatiently. "It is my intention to clear this island of settlers, +and I hope at such time to aid you." + +"It is a brave piece of business to wait until our fathers have gone +away, and then come here to fight women and children!" Susan cried, +sharply. "Are all French officers so valiant?" + +It was impossible for the visitor to see the speaker; but he knew +from the voice that the words were uttered by a girl, and his face +reddened, as he bit his lip to hold back a retort. + +"I offer you good quarter, and to that pledge my word, if you submit +at once," he said, after a brief pause. "In case you are so foolish +as to dream of holding out against us, much loss of blood must +ensue." + +"That is bound to come," Mark replied, gravely. "We are resolved to +hold this stockade as long as there is one left alive to fire a +musket, and when you succeed in the noble work of murdering women +and children, there will be none left alive for the savages, your +very good friends, to torture." + +"And that is your last word?" the officer asked, half-turning on his +heel. + +"The last," Mark replied. + +The Frenchman stood irresolutely while one might have counted ten, +and then, wheeling about, he marched toward the shore, looking back +from time to time as if believing the young defenders might repent +of having given such an answer. + +"We have shut off all chance of making a bargain with them," Luke +said, half to himself, and Susan replied, stoutly: + +"It would have shamed me had Mark treated with them! Why should they +offer us quarter? We have done nothing to warrant their making an +attack upon us, and it is well they should hear the truth--that it +is nothing less than murder. People don't make war in such a fashion +as this!" + +Mark gave no heed to what his companions were saying. His eyes were +fixed on the canoe, in which the three men had embarked, and it was +in his mind that when they regained the schooner there would be a +decided change in the position of affairs. + +And in this he was not mistaken; within half an hour the boats +belonging to the schooner, and the canoes of the Indians, were +engaged in transporting the men to the shore of Mount Desert, half a +mile or more north of the stockade. + +"There's one satisfaction to be had in arousing the Frenchman's +temper," Mark said, grimly, when the work of disembarkation was well +under way. "We won't need to expect a night attack, and hang around +in suspense waiting for it, because the assault is to be begun some +time before sunset. We had best get out our supply of ammunition, +and warn the others that they will soon be needed." + +It was Susan who went to summon her mother and aunt, and when she +returned, carrying a heavy burden of powder and bullets, it was to +report: + +"The children are to be kept in the house, under charge of Ellen. +The others will be here in a minute or two." + +"They can't come any too soon," Luke said, nervously. "The Frenchmen +are already marching along the shore, with the Abenakis trailing on +behind." + +Susan was at her post of duty in a twinkling, and, looking out +through the rough loopholes, she saw no less than twenty white men, +ten of whom were armed with muskets, and the others carrying pikes, +the head of which glittered in the sun, marching in soldierly array +down the beach. In their rear slouched nine Indians, and it was safe +to assume that the remainder of the red-skinned party had been +disabled during the first assault. + +It was a positive relief to Mark when he saw that the enemy was +intending to march directly upon the stockade, most likely counting +on carrying the place by the first assault. If the force had been +divided, so that a portion might attack from the rear at the same +time the others were in front, the task of holding them in check +would have been well-nigh hopeless. + +Even as it was, with everything in the children's favor, it did not +seem possible they could defend themselves against such a force; but +Mark said, as if believing the chances for success were very good: + +"Remember that we can't afford to waste any bullets. If each of us +could hit the target three times in succession, I warrant you those +valiant Frenchmen would be eager to gain the shelter of their +vessel. Both of you can strike four squirrels out of five at fifty +paces, and surely you should be able to do as well when the mark is +so much larger and moving slowly. Don't shoot until you are certain +of hitting your man, and we'll soon see those fellow's backs." + +Mistress Pemberton and Mistress Harding had come to do their share +in the one-sided battle. Both the women looked pale and distressed, +as was but natural under the desperate circumstances; but a single +glance at their faces would have told that they believed the only +course to be a stout resistance, even though it should cost the +lives of all. + +At the shore, directly in front of the stockade, the Indians forced +a halt of the white men, by seemingly insisting that some other +method of procedure be adopted, and during two or three minutes it +appeared as if they would carry their point. + +Mark drew a long breath of relief, however, when the officer who had +demanded the surrender pushed his way past the savages with a +threatening gesture, as he ordered the men forward again. + +"They are coming straight on in a body," he said, in a low tone. +"When you are certain of hitting the mark, shoot, and have the +second musket where it can be got at quickly. If we could get in six +fair shots at the start, it would be a big advantage." + +Each of the children on the platforms had two muskets loaded, and +the women stood ready to take every weapon as soon as it was empty. +The ammunition, divided into three portions, was near the +sharpshooters, and nothing remained to be done save take part in the +life or death struggle so near at hand. + +Steadily the French marched toward the stockade, evidently intending +to begin the attack near the gate, and it was Susan who fired the +first shot. + +As the report of her musket rang out, one of the foremost men +plunged forward to the ground, and five seconds later Mark brought +another of the enemy down. + +Luke fired, but failed of doing execution. He seized the second +musket hurriedly, however, and crippled his foe, thus doing half as +much as Mark had required. + +"Three down in four shots isn't so bad!" the leader cried, +encouragingly, and the words were hardly more than spoken before +both he and Susan fired the second time, each of the bullets finding +its billet. + +Now it was that the Frenchmen halted without the word of command, +and opened fire. + +During three or four minutes it was as if a perfect hail-storm of +lead raged around the stockade, but the stout logs afforded good +protection. Never a missile found its way inside, and the spirits of +the besieged rose rapidly. + +Acting under Mark's orders, neither Susan nor Luke had attempted to +make reply to the furious shooting, lest a bullet accidentally come +through one of the loopholes, and when, because their weapons were +empty, the soldiers ceased the aimless firing, the children's +muskets had been recharged. + +"If we can do as well as we did before, those fellows will soon show +their backs!" Mark cried, cheerily, himself setting the example by +wounding the officer. + +Now the bullets came thick and fast during a full minute, and then +the foremost of the assailants began to fall back, carrying the +officer with them, and an instant later the entire party was in full +and disorderly retreat. + +Three children had actually beaten back twenty white men and nine +Indians, without having received a scratch! + +Not until the faint-hearted men were at the water's edge, beyond +range of those in the stockade, was a halt made, and then it +appeared as if they were holding a council of war. + +[Illustration: An instant later the entire party was in retreat.] + +The officer was laid in one of the boats, and the soldiers gathered +around him, the able-bodied gesticulating furiously, and the wounded +seated on the sand attending to their injuries. None had been killed +outright, but the majority of those who had been hit would not be +likely to take part in another attack, unless it was delayed for a +considerable time. + +It seemed as if the white men gave but little attention to what the +Indians said during this council, for the savages were shouldered +aside with scant ceremony, and after a few moments all the Abenakis, +for none had been wounded, stalked gravely southward, where they +were soon lost to view amid the bushes. + +"We're going to have trouble from those fellows, and it won't be +long coming," Mark said, as he leaped down from the platform, and +ran toward that portion of the stockade immediately in the rear of +the dwellings. "Keep a sharp watch over the Frenchmen, and let me +know what they are doing!" + +Then he began putting up a platform at that point where he could +overlook the thicket, which last had been allowed to grow +dangerously near the buildings, and had hardly mounted for the +purpose of making a hasty survey, when a bullet imbedded itself in +one of the posts against which he leaned. + +"What is the matter?" Susan cried. + +"The Abenakis have sneaked around here, where they can shoot while +remaining under cover. Let mother come to load my muskets!" + +The report of Mark's weapon followed the words, and from the thicket +two or three muskets were discharged, thus showing that the entire +force of Indians was lurking amid the underbrush. + +Susan came running toward her cousin, carrying a weapon in each +hand, and the latter asked, sharply: + +"Why have you left your post? The Abenakis won't kick up much of a +row until after dark." + +"There is nothing to be done at the other side," Susan replied, as +she set about dragging two or three lobster-pots toward the +palisade. "The Frenchmen are paddling back to the schooner, not +leaving one behind, and Luke is watching to see when they leave the +vessel again." + +Another bullet from the Thicket whistled uncomfortably near Mark's +head, and he understood that the most dangerous portion of the +attack was now to be met, for it was impossible to see a single foe. +The swaying of the branches or the tiny curls of smoke, were the +only tokens of an enemy, save when a weapon was discharged. + +"Keep down under cover!" Mark cried, when Susan would have mounted +the collection of lobster-pots. "They are shooting close, and if you +should be disabled we would be in even worse trouble than we are +now." + +"But you are showing them a target." + +"Some one must be here to hold them back." + +"Then I have the same right as you," and the courageous girl +clambered up on the shaky platform until it was possible for her to +look over the palisade. + +It was a most dangerous position, and, fearing lest she should be +killed, Mark left his station to chop away the ends of the posts to +make loopholes. + +"Now you can have a view of the woods without showing yourself," he +said, and would have gone back to his previous position, exposed +though it was, but that she stopped him by asking: + +"Will you do the same at your end of the fence as you have here?" + +"There isn't so much need for me to keep under cover." + +"There is ten times more reason why you should be careful than for +me to skulk behind the posts. Unless you hew the timbers at your +station as you have these, I shall change places with you." + +Mistress Pemberton added her commands to Susan's entreaties, with +the result that Mark was forced to protect himself so far as +possible, but while he chopped at the posts half a dozen bullets +struck close around the axe, showing that the Indians were on the +alert. + +When half an hour had passed neither Mark nor Susan had seen one of +their enemies. Several times they fired at the places where the +branches were waving as if some person was walking beneath them; but +no cry of pain was heard to tell that the bullet had taken effect. + +During this time Luke had reported more than once that the Frenchmen +yet remained on board their vessel, and when the sun was sinking +behind the hills Mark said to his cousin: + +"We're wasting too much powder and lead, Sue. I don't believe one of +our bullets has gone home, and we have sent far too many at random. +The Frenchmen are not beaten yet, and we must have plenty of +ammunition when they come again." + +"What, then, are we to do?" + +"I will stay here, keeping guard lest the Abenakis attempt to scale +the fence. You and our mothers shall attend to the household duties, +holding yourselves in readiness to come whenever I shout." + +"But there is nothing for me to do in the house." + +"Then take advantage of the opportunity to get a little rest, for +it is certain that we shall have our hands full during all this +night. Get supper, if nothing more, and then bring me something to +drink." + +"I'll do that first, and then look after myself," Susan said, as she +went toward the house, and a moment later Mark heard from her a cry +of distress. + +"What's the matter?" he shouted, wildly, fearing, for the instant, +that some of the savages had gained entrance to the dwelling despite +his careful watch. + +"The water! The water!" Susan cried, mournfully, and then came a hum +of voices raised high in excitement and fear, amid which the +sentinel could distinguish no words. + +"Come here, Susan!" Mark shouted, peremptorily, and as the girl +appeared he demanded, "Now tell me what has gone wrong?" + +"The children have spilled all the water we took into the house, and +there's not a drop to be had!" + +"But they couldn't have carried the spring away," Mark replied, with +a laugh, able to make merry even amid the terrible surroundings, so +great was his relief at learning that nothing more serious had +caused the cry which startled him. + +"The sheep have gathered there, until the entire place is a mass of +filthy mud." + +"Well, well, don't let that distress you so sorely. We'll soon be +able to clear it out, for I reckon these beggarly Abenakis won't +keep me busy more than twelve hours." + +"But if the Frenchmen should come in the meantime?" + +"We'll take our chances of that, and get along without water a +little while." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FIRE + + +Mark was disposed to make light of that which distressed Susan, and +thus did he make his first mistake in the defence. + +To his mind there was nothing very serious in the loss of the water +which had been carried into the dwelling, because the spring was +within the stockade, and however much mischief the sheep had done, +it would be the work of but few moments to put everything in proper +order once more. + +The chief thought in his mind was regarding the possible trouble +which the Abenakis might make while hidden in the thicket back of +the palisade, and, after this, the fear that the ablest of his +assistants might become disabled because of her wound, which had not +received the attention such an injury required. + +Therefore it was he said to Susan speaking almost sharply to the end +that she might feel forced to obey without argument: + +"The first thing for you to look after is that wound. Have your +mother dress it once more while you can be spared from the +palisade." Then, seeing that she hesitated, he added, "It is +necessary for the safety of all that you look after yourself, +because if you were disabled, we would be in most serious plight, +you being the best marksman among us." + +Susan hesitated no longer; but went toward the house, even though +she did not believe it necessary to give very much attention to her +arm, which was not so badly injured but that she could use it with +comparative ease. + +When she had disappeared within the dwelling, Mark, watching through +the loophole for a target, cried to his brother: + +"How is everything over your way, Luke?" + +"There has been no change. The Frenchmen are sticking close to their +vessel." + +"I reckon it would be safe for you to come here a few minutes. I'll +send Mary to take your place." + +The lad obeyed promptly, and, after cautioning him not to expose +himself to the aim of the enemy, although it was essential he keep +close lookout over the thicket, Mark went toward the spring. + +The damage done by the sheep was greater than he had supposed. The +earth in the immediate vicinity had been ploughed up by the feet of +the animals until the spring was nearly choked, and Mark realized +that a full hour's work would be required to repair the mischief. + +"We can't spend much time at it while the Abenakis are in the +woods," he said to himself. "Later in the might, perhaps, I shall +have a chance to do the job." + +Then he went to where Mary was taking Luke's place as sentinel near +the gate, instructing her to raise an alarm immediately she saw any +movement on the part of the Frenchmen. + +"Keep your eyes open wide," he said, "and, while watching the +schooner, give some attention to what may be going on close at hand. +I don't believe the Indians will come out of the thicket to show +themselves where no shelter can be found. But, at the same time, it +is possible. Remember that all our lives might pay the forfeit of +your carelessness." + +"You can trust me as you do Susan, although I can't shoot so well; +but my eyes are as good as hers." + +"True for you, sister mine, and between now and morning I'm counting +on your doing a full share of standing guard." + +Then Mark ascended the platform for one look at the vessel, which +remained at her moorings with but few men showing on deck, after +which he went into the dwelling, where his mother was preparing +supper. + +Susan's arm was being rebandaged, after having been bound up with +simples which had been gathered in the woods against just such an +emergency, and the smaller children were huddled in one corner like +frightened sheep. + +"I have left Luke in my place," the lad said, in reply to his +mother's question. "The Abenakis are taking good care to keep out of +sight, and it is only a waste of ammunition to fire at a waving bush +or curl of smoke. I'll get something to eat, now that I'm here, and +then go on duty again." + +Susan declared she would stand watch near the gate, in order that +Mary might take care of the children, and to that end ate supper +with Mark, after which the two went out to their weary, dangerous +vigil once more, with the disheartening knowledge that there was no +probability of receiving aid from any quarter. + +[Illustration: Susan's arm was being rebandaged.] + +"We won't talk about it, Sue," Mark said, when his cousin bewailed +the fact that even though a fishing-vessel should pass near at hand, +her crew would not come ashore when it was seen that the _Future +Hopes_ had left her anchorage. "We can't afford to look on the dark +side of affairs, lest we grow faint-hearted, for you know that, once +our courage is gone, we are the same as beaten." + +Susan did not reply, as she might have done with truth, that they +were then very nearly in that deplorable condition; but shut her +teeth tightly as if to prevent the escape of a single word, while +she walked rapidly toward the gate to take her station as sentinel. + +Mary begged to stand guard an hour or two longer; but Susan insisted +that she was needed in the house, and reluctantly the girl descended +from the platform. + +Then Mark relieved Luke from duty, instructing him to first get his +supper, and then, if the Indians remained inactive, to set about +cleaning out the spring. + +By this time the night had fully come, and Mark noted with +apprehension that clouds were gathering in the sky. While the moon +shone brightly it was as easy to guard against surprise as at +noonday; but once that light was obscured, the enemy might creep up +at a dozen places on the palisade without being detected. + +"Two hours of blackness, and we are done for," Mark said to himself, +with a sigh, and then, remembering what he had told Susan, he added, +"We've got to take whatever comes, and the only manly way is to make +the best of it. In case it is very dark to-night, Mary and Ellen +must both stand watch with the rest of us." + +The report of a musket interrupted his train of gloomy thoughts, and +involuntarily he ducked his head when a bullet came singing over the +fence so near that he felt the "wind" of it. + +"You can't tempt me to shoot till I see something to fire at," he +said, grimly, watching through the loophole at the underbrush which +was merged by the shadows into one single mass of gloom, amid which +not even a movement among the branches could be distinguished. + +Two more shots, which caused him to wonder why the Abenakis were +growing so active, and then he caught a glimpse of a faint spark in +the thicket, which at first sight appeared to him like the glow from +an Indian's pipe. + +He had raised his musket, intending to fire at the bright spot, when +it suddenly increased in size, and, while he stood speculating as to +what it could be, a long tongue of flame leaped upward from branch +to branch. + +No need for speculation now, nor was it well that he stand very much +longer on guard, for the terrible truth was all to plain. + +The Abenakis had fired the woods, counting on burning the palisade, +and thus giving them free entrance for the bloody business upon +which they had come. + +His first thought was to run for water, and then, even before he +could make a movement toward the spring, came the realization that +it was impossible to effect anything by such a course. + +He would not be able to throw water upon the fire in the thicket, +even though he exposed himself to full view over the top of the +palisade, and this was probably exactly what the Indians hoped he +might do. + +"It begins to look as if we had about come to an end of the defence, +and that nothing remains but to sell our lives as dearly as +possible," he said, gloomily, to himself. "Everything around here is +as dry as it well can be, and once the fire gains headway, even the +houses must go." + +Mark descended doggedly from the platform, and as he did so Susan +cried, from her post of duty near the gate: + +"What is on fire?" + +"The Abenakis have started a blaze in the woods." + +"Will the fence burn, think you?" + +"Ay, when the fire is well under way." + +"Can't we do anything toward putting out the blaze?" + +"Nothing, unless we want the Indians to shoot us down before we can +fire a shot." + +"Then what is to be done?" and in her distress Susan leaped down +from the platform to approach her cousin. + +"Better stay where you are!" the lad cried, warningly. "I don't +suppose it will make any great difference to us, and yet we should +know if the Frenchmen come ashore after seeing the fire." + +The girl returned immediately to her station, and even though he was +at a considerable distance from her, Mark could hear the choking sob +which escaped her lips. + +"Keep up a stout heart, Sue; we can make a last stand inside the +house." + +"Ay, Mark; but it will be the last!" + +The lad made no reply; he stood at some distance from the palisade +as if trying to decide upon a course of action, and while he thus +remained irresolute his mother came from the house. + +There was no need that she ask for information; the blaze was so +bright by this time that it must have been seen by those on the +vessel, and Mistress Pemberton inquired in a low tone, but with no +tremor in her voice: + +"Are the logs dry?" + +"Ay, mother; but it will be some time before the flames can eat in +very deeply. We've got fifteen or twenty minutes yet." + +"What is to be done?" + +"We'll take refuge in the house, and shoot down as many as possible +before the fire drives us out." + +"If there is nothing more before us, why not come inside now? The +Indians can climb up on the posts on either side and shoot you down +while you stand here in the light." + +"The Frenchmen are coming ashore!" Susan cried. "One boat-load has +pushed off already!" + +"We are going into the house," Mark said, hesitatingly, as if, even +now, when prudence demanded that they should seek shelter as soon as +possible, he was questioning whether he might effect something by +remaining in the open. + +"But if we don't stand guard the Indians will soon be over the +fence," the girl cried, nervously. + +"Ay, and if you stand there in the glow of the fire they can creep +up under cover of the shadows to one side or the other, and shoot +you down. We've done all we can here, Sue, and the remainder of our +fight must be made from the house." + +The report of a musket from the southern side of the stockade, and +the humming of a bullet close beside Susan's head, gave emphasis to +the lad's words, causing the sentinel to obey without further parley. + +Once inside the dwelling, with the door strongly barred, the older +members of the little party strove to appear unconcerned, each +hoping to cheer the other, and at no time since the island was +besieged did they display more courage than now, when there seemed +no ray of hope remaining. + +Through the crevices of the logs and the window-shutters could be +seen the glow of the flames, which were increasing each instant, +fanned as they were by short, furious gusts of wind which came from +the gathering clouds. + +"We must get under the roof, where I made the loopholes," Mark said +to Susan and Luke. "There's no question but that the Indians will +make a try at coming over the stockade before the fire has destroyed +it, else they have changed their natures completely, and we won't +give them full swing, even though we are cooped up here like rats in +a trap." + +"The boys want water," Ellen, who had been attending to the younger +children, said, at this moment, and the elders of the party looked +at each other in dismay. + +The new danger which confronted them had driven, for the time being, +everything else from their minds; but now all realized that, even +though they might not be permitted to remain long in that frail +refuge, they would suffer severely from thirst before the end came. + +"Get into the loft, one on each side, and shoot with good aim if you +see a painted face over the fence!" Mark cried, as he took up one of +the buckets and went swiftly toward the door. + +"You must not go out!" his mother said, as she barred the way. "It +is certain by this time that the Abenakis are where they can have a +view of the enclosure, and you will be shot down. Better that the +children should suffer from thirst." + +"We will all soon be needing something to drink, for it's bound to +be hot inside here when the palisade catches fire. One bucketful of +water will save us a good deal of suffering, and I'm bound to take +the chances." + +Then, before his mother could prevent him, Mark opened the door, +running at full speed to the spring, which was not more than twenty +feet distant. + +That the Abenakis were on the alert could be told when half a dozen +shots were fired in rapid succession; but, fortunately for the +defenders of the island, not a bullet took effect, owing to Mark's +rapid movements. + +To those who were watching him in agonizing suspense from the house, +it seemed as if the lad no more than wheeled about when he gained +the spring, and then came toward the building in a zigzag course, +well calculated to confuse the most skilful marksman. + +[Illustration: He reentered the house with a bucket two-thirds full +of muddy water.] + +He reentered the house with a bucket two-thirds full of muddy water, +and, while barring the door, once more said, in a tone of triumph: + +"I reckoned it might be done if a fellow used his legs well. That +stuff doesn't look fit to drink; but after the mud has settled a bit +it will be better than nothing. I am to blame for not cleaning the +spring out when I first knew that the children had wasted the +supply." + +"You have nothing with which to reproach yourself, Mark," his aunt +said as she laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder. "You have +taken the place of both your father and uncle, and there is not a +man grown who could have done more, or better, work." + +The lad's face flushed with pleasure at this praise, but he affected +to give no heed to the words as he clambered into the loft, musket +in hand, calling out when he was on the timbers above: + +"Give us the ammunition up here, and we'll load our own guns until +the enemy comes too fast." + +Mistress Pemberton handed him only a portion of the powder and +bullets, after which she stood on the top of a table ready to take +the empty weapons when the sharpshooters required her services. + +Mark was the first to discharge his musket, and a cry of pain +followed the report, telling that the ammunition had not been wasted. + +"What did you see?" his mother asked, anxiously. + +"An Indian's head over the top of the fence near the gate. There's +one villain the less to trouble us!" + +At this moment Susan and Luke both fired, the reports coming so near +together as to sound like one, and the girl cried, triumphantly: + +"I've hit another! What did you do, Luke?" + +"I don't know; he went backward at the flash, like a loon; but it +seems as if I must have struck him, for I had a fair aim." + +Mistress Pemberton now had work to perform, for those in the loft +soon learned that it would be impossible to recharge the weapons and +at the same time keep close watch on what might be happening outside. + +Seven shots had been fired from the dwelling, three of which were +known to have found their targets, when a heavy pounding at the gate +told of additional danger. + +"What is it?" Mistress Harding cried, and Mark replied, quietly, as +if it was of no especial consequence: + +"The Frenchmen have come, and are battering down the gate." + +"How long will it take them to do it?" Susan asked, her voice +quivering despite all efforts to render it steady. + +"It will be a good half-hour's job, with what timber they can pick +up near at hand. If they should cut down a stout tree, the work +might be done in half that time. Keep your eyes on the top of the +fence, for if one fellow gets inside he might succeed in pulling out +the bars before we could stop him." + +Twice more the children fired, and then it was as if the Abenakis +had tired of a game at which they were rapidly being worsted without +an opportunity to inflict any injury. + +"They've made up their minds to wait till the gate is down," Mark +said, grimly. "We must have all the muskets ready when the rush +comes, and shoot with good aim, for it will be our last fair chance." + +All this while the flames had been increasing in volume, and the +heat inside the dwelling, filled with the smoke of burning powder as +it was, seemed stifling. + +The younger children had drank of the muddy water eagerly, giving no +heed to its disagreeable appearance, and the older members of the +little company were already suffering with thirst; but never one of +them ventured to claim a portion of the scanty supply. + +"The fence is on fire," Mark said as he left his station at the +front of the loft to survey the scene in the rear. "The wind is +getting up in great shape, and coming from the east, otherwise these +housed would be on fire by this time." + +"There goes the upper part of the gate!" Luke cried. "Two or three +more fair blows, and the whole will be down!" + +Mark came back to where he could overlook the scene of what he +believed would be the final struggle, and the three children +crouched, muskets in hand, ready to empty the six weapons before the +enemy could approach the house sufficiently near to find shelter +under its walls. + +The two women were standing on a table, where they could reach the +weapons when they were empty. In one corner of the room, seated on a +bed which was laid on the floor behind the barricade of the door, +were the other children, some crying for water, and others weeping +with fear. + +The powder smoke hung heavily in the small apartment, which was +illumined by the glow of the flames, now not more than thirty feet +distant, and the heat was almost overpowering. + +The bucket in which Mark had brought the muddy water from the +spring, was empty, and the throats of the three children in the loft +were literally parched with a thirst that could not be allayed. + +They were beset by danger on every hand, and the supreme moment +seemed very near, for once the gate was demolished, however +desperately they might fight, the end was come. + +"We are not to leave here alive," Susan whispered softly in Mark's +ear, and he replied, pressing her hand: + +"That part of it sha'n't be forgotten, Sue dear." + +A cry from Luke; the crashing and splintering of wood; a shock which +could be felt by the refugees as the heavy timbers fell inward, and +the passage was open to the foe. + +"Take good aim!" Mark shouted. "Shoot at the foremost, and work +quickly!" + +While one might have counted ten the enemy hung back as if fearing +that a party of women and children might have planned an ambush, and +then with a yell of triumph, the opening in the palisade was filled +with armed men. + +The defenders in the loft fired at almost the same instant; then, +delaying only sufficiently long to fling back the empty weapons and +take up those that were loaded, three more reports rang out. + +The Frenchmen halted irresolutely for an instant, as four of their +number fell to the ground, and had the children been able to fire +one more volley immediately, it is quite certain the entire party +would have beaten a retreat even at the moment of victory. + +As the men, recovering courage, dashed forward, a heavy peal of +thunder seemed to shake the very earth, and on the moment rain fell +in torrents, coming as suddenly and in such volume as if having been +poured from some immense reservoir. + +The enemy recoiled as if confronted by an overwhelming force, and as +they wavered the children in the loft discharged three muskets, each +bullet seemingly taking effect. + +Then, suddenly, it was as if a black mantel had been dropped over +the terrible scene. A certain portion of the enormous downpour of +water was converted into clouds of steam by the flames, which were +literally beaten down, and those who had struggled so bravely to +defend the island could distinguish nothing. + +[Illustration: Again the crash of thunder drowned all sounds.] + +"What is the matter?" Ellen cried in alarm at thus being suddenly +plunged into profound darkness, and the younger children screamed +with terror. + +A deafening peal of thunder seemingly came in answer to the question +followed a second later by a vivid, blinding flash of lightning +which illumined the interior of the loft through the few crevices +between the logs, until the defenders could see each other's faces +gleaming ghastly pale. + +The water trickling through the roof restored them to their senses +somewhat, and Mark said, speaking as if with an effort: + +"The storm has been gathering since afternoon. Now, while we are +cooped up here in the darkness, the enemy can work his will!" + +Again the crashing of thunder drowned all other sounds; once more +the jagged rifts of unearthly fire, breaking though the clouds, +illumined the scene, and Susan cried, as if unable to believe her +own statement: + +"The men are running away! They are running away!" + +Mark and Luke sprang to her side, waiting for another flash of +lightning, and when it came, preceded by crashing thunder which +caused the house of logs to tremble, the enclosure was deserted. + +"It's true that some of them have gone; perhaps all," Mark +announced; "but the whole crew will come back when the storm is +over, and there will be nothing save our muskets to prevent them +from marching in at their pleasure." + +"Let us give thanks for the mercies which have already been bestowed +upon us," Mistress Pemberton said, devoutly. "The fire is +extinguished, and we need no longer fear being burned to death." + +"That might not be the worst that will befall us," Mark thought, +recalling to mind the fate of those settlers of Maine who had been +put to death by torture. + +Because of the fury of the tempest, it seemed as if its force must +be quickly spent, and the besieged waited in painful suspense, +fearing that the downpour of water would speedily cease; but the +moments went by amid the flashing of lightning and crashing of +thunder, without any abatement of the tempest, save as the wind +lulled for a few seconds to come in yet more spiteful gusts. + +When half an hour had passed, Mistress Pemberton insisted that the +three children should come down from the loft in order that they +might all be together during this respite from the cruel foe, and +when they were in the room below, freed from the fear of immediate +death, thanks were given to Him who "ruleth the tempest" for this +new lease of life, brief though it might prove to be. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WRECK + + +Hope once more sprang up in the hearts of those who had been so +sorely tried, when the storm continued with greal fury. The +electrical portion of the tempest appeared to have passed away, +leaving the raging wind and pelting rain to guard the settlers who +of a verity had descended into the very valley of the shadow of +death. + +When it was understood that that which was at first supposed to be a +summer gale had developed into a furious northeast storm, giving no +token of subsiding, Mark said as he rose to his feet: + +"When the rain first came it seemed as if my throat was parched dry +with thirst, and now that water is to be had in abundance, all hands +of us appear to have forgotten that we wanted a drink." + +"We might catch some of the water that is finding its way through +the roof," Mistress Pemberton said as if such a possibility had +never occurred to her before. + +"We can do better than that, mother dear. I'll go to the spring for +a full bucket, and when it has been strained we shall have what will +be an improvement on rainwater." + +"But possibly some of the enemy may be lurking outside," Mistress +Harding said, becoming timorous once more, now that the imminent +danger had passed. + +"Whoever has been out in the storm all this while will be harmless, +aunt, for his musket would be filled with something other than +powder," Mark replied with a laugh, and then he unbarred the door, +surprised to find that it was only with difficulty he could make +headway against the furious blasts. + +So powerful was the wind that it became necessary for Susan and Luke +to unite their strength in order to close the door while Mark was +absent, and when he returned with a brimming bucket of discolored +water, the three had no little difficulty in putting the bars into +place again. + +"It is the fiercest storm I ever saw!" Mark exclaimed as he dashed +the rain-drops from his face. "We'll pray that the _Future Hopes_ is +in a snug harbor, otherwise she will have to scud, for I don't +believe they could heave her to." + +"Do you think there is any probability your father and uncle may be +out in this tempest?" Mistress Pemberton asked, more anxious now for +the safety of the absent ones then she previously had been +concerning herself. + +"They are too good sailors, mother dear, to take many chances, and +we had fair warning of this storm. If we hadn't been in such sore +straits, there's no question but that we would have been prepared +for it. I noticed the clouds gathering, but at the time thought only +that it would be our misfortune, since we could not keep watch of +the Indians. Close-reefed, and with plenty of sea-room, the _Future +Hopes_ will ride out this gale without doing more harm to herself +than the straining of a seam, perhaps." + +"The Frenchmen could not have had time to get their vessel under +way," Mistress Pemberton said as if thinking aloud, and Mark sprang +to his feet in excitement. + +"Of course they couldn't, and it is well for them if they didn't +succeed in getting on board, for the craft never had been built that +can ride at anchor to the eastward of the brook while the wind is so +heavy. It would have been impossible to get under way, for she'd be +on the rocks before her nose could be brought around into the wind!" + +"Do you suppose they are yet on the island?" + +"I think, unless all hands are good sailors, that they'd try to get +on board, and that could have been done because the sea wouldn't +grow heavy in an instant." + +Further speculation as to the fate of their foes was checked very +suddenly by what sounded like the groaning of a human being in +deepest distress, coming from one corner of the room in which they +were seated. + +Instinctively the inmates of the dwelling clutched each other, for +it was impossible to see anything in that profound darkness, and +during many seconds no one spoke. + +Then the dismal sound could be heard once more, and Mark, forcing +himself to beat down the fear which assailed him, said, with an +effort: + +"Can you find one of the candles, mother? Some one here must be +dying. Where are the children?" + +"Johnny and Jimmie are with me," Ellen said, and Mary added: + +"I'm here with Luke." + +"No one could have got inside without our knowing it," Mistress +Pemberton said, as she groped around for the scanty store of +candles, which were reserved for use on especial occasions. + +Mark did not reply until his mother succeeded, after many fruitless +efforts, in striking a spark from the steel and flint on the tinder, +and as the feeble flame of the candle flickered and flared in the +wind which made its way through the crevices, the lad began to tear +away the barricade of household goods which had been thrown up to +screen the window. + +"It is useless to search there," Mistress Pemberton said, quickly, +as if a sudden thought had come to her. "One of those whom you +wounded is lying outside, and we hear his moans because he is close +beside the building." + +Mark was at the door in an instant, forgetting that he was hastening +to the succor of one who, a short hour previous, was bent on killing +him, and Susan seized the lad by the arm, as she said in a tone of +caution: + +"It may be some trick to get you outside. Be careful what you do; we +have heard that the Indians often make use of such means to get a +victim in their clutches." + +"I'll warrant there is no Indian living who could stay out in this +storm an hour or more, and then be able to do very much mischief," +Mark replied as he unfastened the bar, waiting only long enough for +Luke and Susan to get hold of the door, lest it should be torn from +its hinges by the wind, before he darted out into the blackness. + +A moment later it was possible to hear his voice, as if he spoke to +someone, and then all was still, save for the raging of the tempest, +until he cried from the outside: + +"Open the door, youngsters. I've got a Frenchman here, who must be +very near death!" + +Then, as Luke and Susan gave him admittance, he came staggering into +the room with an apparently lifeless body in his arms, while +Mistress Pemberton shielded the candle as best she might, lest the +wind extinguish the feeble flame. + +Mark laid his burden on the bed, heeding not the fact that the water +was running from every angle of the stranger's garments. + +Like Mark, the two women forgot that a bitter enemy was before them; +but with gentle care set about ministering to his wants, if, indeed +he would have any more in this world. + +Now all the occupants of the dwelling were too much engrossed with +the work of saving the life which had so nearly been taken by one of +their number to be able to tell whether the storm was yet raging, or +if the morning had come. + +In a very short time it was learned that the man lived, although how +he survived after being exposed to the fury of the tempest so long, +could not be understood. He had an ugly-looking wound in the thigh, +and another in the left breast; but Mistress Pemberton gave it as +her opinion that he was not mortally hurt. + +"With good nursing, I doubt not but that he will live," she said, as +she dressed the wounds to the best of her ability. "But if he does, +what shall we do with him?" + +"There is no need to answer that question now, mother dear," Mark +said, gently. "We'll try to pull him through, even if we have +already done our best to kill him, and then he'll know what it is to +have coals of fire heaped on his head; that is," he added, after a +brief pause, "if his comrades allow us to live long enough to do the +job." + +A fire was built, tea of herbs made and administered to the +sufferer, and before morning came it was possible for him to speak. + +He was sufficiently acquainted with the English language to make +them understand him, and his first words were expressive of surprise. + +"Save when you attack us without cause, we have no desire for your +death," Mistress Pemberton replied. "Now you are no longer a +soldier, striving to do us grievous injury, but a suffering fellow +creature, and so long as it is in our power we will do whatsoever we +may toward giving you aid." + +The wounded man turned his face away, as if ashamed to look the good +woman in the face, and after a time Mark questioned him as to how +the chanced to be so near the house. + +From his story, told little by little because of the difficulty +experienced in talking, the facts were soon known. + +He had been among the first to burst through the gate, and was not +wounded until when the last shot was fired. Then instinct prompted +him to gain a shelter under the wall of the building, where it would +not be possible for those on the inside to see him, immediately +after which he lost consciousness. During a long while he remained +as if dead, and it is probable that the deluge of rain served to +revive him after a time; but he was ignorant of having made any +outcry. He remembered of realizing that he was alone, exposed to +the storm, and the next knowledge was that the women were striving +to nurse him back to life. + +[Illustration: The next knowledge was that the women were trying to +nurse him back to life.] + +It was morning before the inmates of the dwelling gave much heed to +anything save the wounded soldier, and then Mark, after cautioning +the remainder of the family to stay inside the dwelling unless they +heard his cry for help, ventured out into the tempest, which +continued with but little decrease of violence. + +The sun had not yet risen, and it the gray light of early dawn it +was not possible to distinguish objects at any great distance. He +had, in the immediate vicinity of the stockade, however, good proof +of the violence with which the storm raged. + +A portion of the palisade itself had been overthrown, leaving an +opening through which the entire force of the enemy might have +marched shoulder to shoulder. Trees were uprooted; the small boat, +which had been drawn beyond reach of the tide, was now within ten +feet of the battered gate, having been carried there by the wind. + +That the buildings within the stockade remained un-injured was due, +doubtless, to the thicket in the rear which served to shield them +from the full fury of the elements. + +Turn where he might, the same scene of devastation met his gaze, and +he understood that if any of the Frenchmen remained on the island +they would be powerless to depart, for their vessel could not have +outlived the night. + +The wind was yet so violent that only with difficulty could he make +his way from one point to another, and the rain beat upon his face +until it became necessary to shield his eyes in order to see +anything twenty paces distant; but he struggled against the +elements, making his way along the shore toward the place where the +Frenchmen's schooner had been moored. + +The vessel no longer remained at her anchorage, nor did he expect to +see her there; but he was not quite prepared for that which met his +gaze when he was where a view of the most northerly point of the +harbor island could be had. + +Between where he stood and the opposite shore was the hull of the +schooner, keel uppermost, tossing on the short waves, now completely +submerged, and again rising high in the air until the greater +portion of the planking could be seen. Clinging to this restless +wreck were six or eight human beings, and on the beach at his feet +lay the bodies of two men who had been beaten down to death during +the conflict of the elements. + +After watching for several moments the plunging, rolling remnant of +what had been a seagoing vessel, fitted to withstand almost any +buffeting of wave or wind, Mark became convinced that the wreck was +moored in some fashion, and then it was possible to guess very +nearly how the disaster had occurred. + +It seemed probable that when the first of the Frenchmen gained the +schooner's deck, after the fury of the tempest had forced them to +retreat from the stockade, the wild tossing of the craft as the +waves were beginning to rise induced them to let go every anchor on +board, under the belief that she could be held at moorings until the +storm had subsided sufficiently to admit of her clawing away from +the shore. + +[Illustration: He gazed at the struggling wretches on the bottom of +the wreck.] + +When the tempest was at its height, and after the attacking party +had succeeded in getting on board, the little craft must have been +literally blown down, until the water, rushing into the open +hatches, had caused her to completely upset. + +The wounded, and all others who were in the cabin, must have been +drowned offhand, and that some of those who tried to save themselves +by clinging to the hulk had suffered a like fate could be told by +the lifeless bodies at Mark's feet. + +Aid had come to the defenders of the island on the wings of the +tempest; and at the very time when it seemed as if all hope of +succor was vain, the enemy had been overcome by "Him who holdeth the +waters in the hollow of His hand." + +As he gazed at the struggling wretches on the bottom of the wreck, +some of whom waved their hands feebly, as if nearly exhausted and +imploring him to help them, Mark forgot that but a few hours +previous these same men had been thirsting for his blood, and +thought only that they were in sore need of his assistance. + +He ran with all speed to the stockade, shouting as he approached, +and when the women and children hastened outside, believing him to +be in distress, he hurriedly told of what he had seen. + +"Of all those who made the attack, I am satisfied that only the men +on the hulk remain alive. It is for us to help them if we can. There +should be enough of us here to drag our boat to the water, and Luke +and I will see what can be done in the way of life-saving." + +Sorely beset though they had been, no one thought at that moment of +the suffering which had been endured because of these men who were +now so near death; but all, even the youngest children, laid hold of +the boat to launch her. + +It was no slight task to drag the craft, small though she was, over +the sand to the water's edge; but the task was finally accomplished, +and then many moments were spent trying to find the oars, which had +been blown out of the boat during such time as the tempest forced +her upon the shore. + +A full half-hour must have elapsed from the moment Mark discovered +the wreck until he and his brother were ready to set off on their +mission of mercy, and then it was an open question as to whether +they would succeed in the battle against the boisterous waves. + +The members of both families stood near the water's edge, regardless +of the furious storm which was raging, as they watched with anxious +eyes the efforts of the lads. They had set out to save lives; but +very many times did it seem as if their own must of a certainty be +sacrificed. + +Fortunately they were partially sheltered from the wind by the +harbor island, otherwise the task could never have been +accomplished, and not until both the lads were well-nigh exhausted +did they arrive at the plunging hulk. + +Now it was that the most dangerous portion of the work must be +performed. Only at imminent risk of swamping the small boat could +she be taken sufficiently near the wreck to permit of a rescue, and +then it was necessary to handle her with the utmost skill, otherwise +she would have been stove to kindling against the side of the hulk. + +When the boat came close at hand, all the Frenchmen gathered at one +point, as if counting on leaping aboard at the same moment, and +Mark shouted, peremptorily: + +"You'll swamp us if more than one comes at a time. Lay back there +you fellows who are the strongest, and help the weakest first!" + +Then they quarreled among themselves, each insisting that he was in +the greatest need of help, and Mark, finally becoming impatient, +cried, sternly: + +"If you can't come aboard like decent people, we'll leave the whole +boiling of you to get along as may be possible." + +"There is not one of us who can cling to this wreck half an hour +longer," a man cried, piteously. "Already five have been washed away +and drowned." + +"Two of you take hold and send aboard that fellow who is lying +across the keel. He seems to be in the worst shape. Stand back!" +the lad added, as four men made ready to seize the small boat at +the first opportunity. "If you come in other order than I give the +word, I'll leave all hands." + +By dint of scolding, pulling the boat forward or back as the waves +threatened, and otherwise handling his small craft in a sailorly +fashion, Mark succeeded in getting four of the men aboard, leaving +three to be rescued later. + +The boat would carry no more of a load than she then had, while the +storm was so furious, and the lads pulled shoreward, aided greatly, +when going in this direction, by the wind. + +The members of both families gathered on the beach near about where +a landing would be made, and when the shipwrecked men had been set +ashore they were helped toward the stockade by the women and +children, for the Frenchmen were so nearly exhausted that it was +impossible to walk unaided. + +Then Mark and Luke started on the second journey, battling quite as +desperately as before, and the day was fully half-spent when they +brought the last of the survivors ashore. + +It was not until the seven Frenchmen were being cared for in the +apartment of the Pemberton house where the wounded soldier lay, that +the lad began to realize the possible danger. These eight men, after +having recovered, might easily take possession of the stockade, and +Mark was inclined to believe that people who were willing to make +war on women and children, could not be trusted to play a manly part +even toward those who had saved them from death. + +"What shall we do with them all?" Susan asked, as she came out of +the house, which had much the appearance of a hospital, to where +Mark stood studying the matter seriously. + +"It has just come into my mind that we might herd them in your +father's house. The greater portion of the things have been taken +from there, and we can arrange it to bar the doors and shutters on +the outside." + +"Are you counting on holding them as prisoners?" Susan asked, in +surprise. + +"That is the only way we may be certain of a crew like that. After +all that has happened, I wouldn't believe in any promises that might +be made, and they shall be guarded like so many wildcats." + +"Every one of whom appears to be grateful." + +"Ay, I suppose they are now, before having recovered; but it may be +a different matter, once they're in good shape." + +"Do you believe there can be any on the harbor island?" + +"I'm satisfied there are no others alive out of all the crew of +French and Indians. Luke and I counted on burying the bodies which +have been washed ashore, and while we are at that work you had +better gather up all the muskets and ammunition, hiding the lot in +the stable until we have the men secured." + +Then, calling his brother, Mark set off toward the beach to perform +the last rites over those who had lost their lives while trying to +commit murder most foul, and, that having been done, the two lads +began transforming the Harding house into a prison, which last was +done by fastening all the shutters and one of the doors on the +outside. The other door was to be barred in such a manner that it +could be readily opened by those who were charged with the care of +the Frenchmen. + +These tasks were not completed until nightfall, and then Mark told +the rescued party exactly what it was his purpose to do, explaining +that he was not ready to believe in any protestations they might +make. + +"You must be held prisoners until our fathers return, and it is to +be remembered that if we find one of you attempting to leave the +building, which will be given over to your use, we shall shoot him +down without the slightest feeling of pity or remorse." + +The men swore most solemnly that they would obey every command which +might be given by those who had saved them from death, and Mark, +armed with a loaded musket, lost no time in escorting them to the +Harding house. + +It was his intention to have them closely guarded during every hour +of the day and night, and to such end Luke was stationed at the +front of the building, where, through a crevice which had been made +between the logs by Mark, he could keep his charges in view. + +Mistress Pemberton would not consent to having the wounded man +removed with the others. He was given a bed in one corner of the +room, after the furniture piled up as a barricade had been put in +place, and Mary and Ellen were instructed to watch him, not with the +idea that he might try to escape, but because his condition was +such, owing to the wounds and subsequent exposure, that the most +careful nursing and attention was needed. + +The storm subsided at sunset; the clouds disappeared, and the first +night after the besieged were turned jailers was as calm and +peaceful as if the harmony of nature had never been disturbed by the +clash of arms. + +Luke remained on duty until about ten o'clock in the evening, when +Susan took his place, and shortly after midnight Mark took his turn +at guarding the prisoners. + +The Frenchmen had shown no signs of a disposition to do other than +as they were commanded; but Mark would not put faith in them, and +kept his watch as if knowing they had already formed a plan for +capturing those who succored them. + +The lad paced to and fro in front of the dwelling, looking in upon +the men every five minutes, until a new day had come, and then as he +gazed across the waters watching for the sun to rise, he saw the +dingy canvas of the _Future Hopes_, glistening like silver in the +early light. + +The fresh breeze was bearing the little vessel swiftly on, and +before any inmate of the Pemberton house was astir, she swung to her +anchor close inside the harbor, while the two men listened to the +story which Mark had to tell. + +The fishermen had not been able to gain a shelter when the storm +burst upon them, therefore the _Future Hopes_ scudded before the +wind during the four and twenty hours, which explained why she had +arrived so much sooner than had been expected. + +It would be a labor of love to follow the fortunes of these two +families who, in 1758, defended the Island of Mount Desert so +bravely against the combined attacks of French and Indians; but +historians make no further mention of them, after setting forth in +the fewest possible words their deeds, therefore this tale must +perforce come to an end. + +We do know, however, from the records of Pemaquid, that Masters +Pemberton and Harding carried to the fort eight Frenchmen as +prisoners, and that the authorities of Massachusetts took them in +charge several weeks later. + +It is also known that in 1769 one Mark Pemberton, with his wife +Susan, settled on Penobscot Bay near where the town of Camden now +stands, and it is reasonable to infer that this man was the same +who, aided by Susan Harding, so bravely defended the island. + + + + +THE END. + + +[Transcriber's Notes:] + +Here are all the misspelled words, odd usages and other things of +note that I have found. + +The word "defence", as it is spelled throughout, is time period +spelling. + +1. This paragraph is accurate to the book. It could read like this: +"...otherwise the defences would not be being strengthened when the +boys should have been making ready...". + +2. The words "any one" appear to be time period usage. It is used +twice. + +3. The original does use the word "then" though it should probably +be "when": "...relieved from guard duty, and when the gate had been +closed..." + +4. The original does use the word "and": "...the gate was barred on +the inside, and Mary Pemberton standing close beside it..." + +5. The original does use the word "prosecute". I +suspect it is just time period usage. "...in position to prosecute +their murderous work." + +6. This paragraph is accurate to the book: "...there's no show of +our being able to do anything here..." + +7. The second "e" in the word "reechoed" is a small letter "e" with +diaeresis. + +8. The word "of" appears to be time period usage: "...uncle heard +from those aboard of the last vessel...". + +9. The word "resentiments" appears to be a misprint of +"resentments". "...gave vent to their resentiments and rage..." + +10. The words "some one" appear to be time period usage. + +11. The second "e" in the word "reentered" is a small letter "e" +with diaeresis. It is also used in the title of the 13th +illustration. + +12. This paragraph is accurate to the book: "...shake the very +earth, and on the moment rain fell in torrents..." + +13. The word "greal" appears to be a misprint for "great": "...the +storm continued with greal fury." + +14. The words "some one" appear to be time period usage. + +15. The word "of" appears to be time period usage: "...to permit of +a rescue..." + +[End of Transcriber's Notes.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Defending the Island, by James Otis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEFENDING THE ISLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 34558.txt or 34558.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/5/5/34558/ + +Produced by Zechariah Stover (ZechariahStover.com) + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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