“My thoughts at once reverted to the Indian woman who had leaned against the wheel. She had doubtless drawn the linch-pin.
“There was treachery of some kind in the wind. But what could it mean? I never for a moment thought of Joliffe and his possible revenge.
“As quickly as fingers could work, I took out the horse and tied him to a tree, then I backed the carriage into a sheltering corner of the rock, and hardly had I done so ere the whole forest resounded with the howling of vengeful savages.
“I had expected no assistance from Miriam, and was surprised to get it. But the dear girl had all the courage and coolness in danger of a true American woman. Armed with a revolver each, we gave those Redskins a warm reception; and though the bullets rattled on the rocks behind us like the hail on our window panes, Ben, they retired discomfited.
“We could hardly expect to remain where we were much longer, and hope itself was sinking in my heart, when the yelling was renewed, and the Indians came on a second time to the attack.
“Ah! but help was at hand. Savages can yell, but there is nothing so blood-stirring as the wild ‘hurrah!’ of a Briton or an American.
“We heard it now, and sent back cheer for cheer.
“I can hardly describe the scene that followed. It was a fierce melée, a hand-to-hand contest, and dreadful while it lasted. But the Redskins were beaten, Ben, at length, as Redskins always have been in the long run who crossed sword or spear against civilised man.
“For the life of me I could never tell how long that fight continued. It might have been but five minutes—it might have been an hour.
“But there, in the midst of the dead and the dying, stood Miriam, locked in her father’s arms.