Straight up to the big gate we advanced, believing that in the next second we should hear the alarm gun.—Page 204. On the Kentucky Frontier.
Straight up to the big gate we advanced, and so secure did the garrison feel in the friendship of the savages, who thirsted for the blood of such white people as were not in the king's favor, that the barrier was not so much as closed.
We entered and had surrounded the commandant's quarters before any one of the enemy was aware of our presence, and then came the alarm.
A gun was fired at the instant Major Clarke stood before the door of Monsieur Rocheblave's house, and the echo of the report had hardly died away before he, followed by a score of men, entered the building.
Standing close by Paul's side, directly behind Simon Kenton, I awaited the beginning of that battle which seemed imminent; yet grown somewhat bolder because of the fact that we were within the stockade.
While I remained on the alert, my rifle half upraised, there came the word, I know not from where, that the commandant had surrendered, and, turning toward us, Simon Kenton said much as if he was dissatisfied with this peaceful ending of what had promised to be a most difficult undertaking.
"Well, lads, the first of the outposts we counted on capturing is ours, and we have not been put to the expense of a single charge of ammunition."
"Do you mean to say that there will be no fighting?" I asked in surprise.
"How can there be since Monsieur Rocheblave has surrendered?"
"But we were told there were eighty men here to hold the garrison in the king's name?"