“Humph!”
Sam Barringford said no more, but went straight to Joseph Morris.
“We want to watch thet gate harder nor ever,” he announced.
“Why, Sam?”
“They have been cuttin’ down a tree.”
“Ha! Do you think they wish to use it for a battering ram?”
“Don’t know wot else they’d want it fer. Anyway, it won’t hurt to watch the gate extry well.”
“I’ll have it done,” answered the planter, and was as good as his word.
Another hour went by and still the silence around the trading post continued. A few of the men were sleepy, but they were ordered to keep awake.
“Our sleeping will be done in the daytime after this—until the alarm is at an end,” said Joseph Morris.