Were it not for the helpless women, and the terrible fate which threatened Ruth, they would hardly have given their situation a thought. Both had been in a tight fix before, and this time if it was fated that they were to go under, why they would do so with the best grace they could. But they would not give up so long as they had life and strength left them.
Dick withdrew his rifle and stepped back from the loophole.
“Stay here, Ned, and keep a good look without. It may be that you will get a shot at one of the varmints by and by when they are getting kinder keerless. I’ll go down and see what Sam and that long-legged Yankee are up to. To my mind the red-skins will be trying the door afore long. There! I knew they would.”
As he uttered these words, the flooring beneath their feet trembled, and there came a sound from the outside as though a blow had been dealt with great force against the cabin.
Hurriedly Dick descended the ladder, and joined Sam, whose form he made out standing by the door.
The light had been extinguished so that the savages could not see what was passing within the cabin.
The darkness hid the forms of Ruth and her mother, and that of the Yankee was invisible.
“Well, Sam, how goes it?” he demanded, in a low tone.
“Well, so far,” returned the settler. “I’ve done for one of ’em, and you and Ned for two more. They’ve tried the door once, but they did not stir it a peg. I should think a half dozen of them threw themselves against it at once.”
At that moment another blow fell upon it, causing it to start back a little, for the instant; only to firmly resume its place when the force of the blow was spent.