There were several means by which the fugitives could be compelled to succumb in the end, if these means were only employed by the savages. The first and obviously safest was to keep up the siege until they were compelled to come to terms. Dernor had not a drop of water nor a particle of food, and consequently this plan on the part of the besiegers would have been only a question of time. Again, a rapid and determined assault could scarcely fail to take the Rifleman and the Huron. There were ten Indians to make the attempt, but those ten knew well enough that two of their number would never live to reach the fort in case the rush was made and that there would be desperate work before the two men could be overcome.
During the hour of silence these plans occurred to Dernor, and he mentioned the first to Oonamoo. The cunning savage shook his head.
"Won't do that—afeard."
"Afraid of what?"
"Settlement two—t'ree—fifteen mile off—afeard other Long Knives come afore we got starve."
"I hope the boys are somewhere in the woods. Why don't the cowardly dogs rush in upon us? They could batter these logs down in five minutes."
"Afeard we batter 'em down," replied the Huron, with a sparkle of his black eyes.
"We would surely knock some of them over, but I don't suppose we could finish up the whole ten."
"Finish some—don't know which—dat de reason."
"Their heads are so full of their devilish inventions, I should think they could get up some way to attack us without getting a shot at them."