His first thought was to run for water, and then, even before he could make a movement toward the spring, came the realization that it was impossible to effect anything by such a course.
He would not be able to throw water upon the fire in the thicket, even though he exposed himself to full view over the top of the palisade, and this was probably exactly what the Indians hoped he might do.
"It begins to look as if we had about come to an end of the defence, and that nothing remains but to sell our lives as dearly as possible," he said, gloomily, to himself. "Everything around here is as dry as it well can be, and once the fire gains headway, even the houses must go."
Mark descended doggedly from the platform, and as he did so Susan cried, from her post of duty near the gate:
"What is on fire?"
"The Abenakis have started a blaze in the woods."
"Will the fence burn, think you?"
"Ay, when the fire is well under way."
"Can't we do anything toward putting out the blaze?"
"Nothing, unless we want the Indians to shoot us down before we can fire a shot."