“Loïs, has anything happened?” he asked, looking anxiously at her pale face.
“Nadjii has been here,” she answered. “The Indians are going to attack us to-night.”
The fear was so constantly present with them all, that the statement did not elicit even an exclamation of surprise from Marcus; he only said,—
“I knew it must come sooner or later. I only wish you women had accepted William Parkmann’s offer, and were safe at Boston.”
“Neither mother nor I would have gone. You know it, Marcus. More than ever are we bound to stay by our people.”
“Well, you must go now; it won’t do for you to be caught by the redskins. We’ve kept the cattle pretty close. The best of the herds can be got in easily, and then we must defend the old place as best we can; but the first thing to be done is to get the women and children out of the place. I’ll go and call Father Nat.”
The inhabitants of the settlement were beginning to show signs of life. Cocks crowing, dogs barking, and the soft lowing of the cattle came gently up from the valley above which the two homesteads stood.
Without further speech the brother and sister parted, Marcus crossing over to Father Nat, whom he met on the threshold of his house.
“Well, lad, what’s brought you over so early?” asked Nathaniel, taking his pipe from his mouth. “We’re going to have a fine day. This sort of weather is good for the land; we shall have a splendid autumn.”
“I doubt if there’ll be much left to rejoice over by this time to-morrow,” answered Marcus. “They’re coming at last, Father Nat!”