Taking warning from the deaths of the more adventurous the Shawnees upon the roof of the cabin made no more attempts by way of the chimney. Old Mr. Curley shrewdly judged that the swift fate which had overtaken their comrades would have this effect, but nevertheless he made sure there would be no more surprises from that direction.
“Dick,” said he, to one of his sons, a stalwart youth who had been firing from one of the port-holes with a pair of horseman’s pistols, “see to the fireplace. Don’t take your eyes off it, and if you catch sight of a red hide, fill it full of holes.”
Just then the most important thing of all was to scatter the fire from the door before it did serious harm. The brush was blazing furiously and that the door was also burning they felt sure, judging from the jets of smoke and flame that shot between the heavy planks. The man in buckskin, who was a trapper of the region and not connected with the little settlement on the fork, now ventured a plan.
“Let one man stand ready to throw open the door, let another have a pail of water to throw on the outside of it where it is burning, and two more stand ready to kick away the brush. But before the door is open we’ll drive the Injuns in front to cover; while they are still running will be the time to act.”
As this plan was as good as any, they at once proceeded to put it into operation. The rifles increased their deadly cracking and the Shawnees, who had continued their charges in order to keep the fire supplied with fresh brush, were unable to stand up under it. Helter skelter they fled for cover; the door was thrown open, the brush kicked away and a drench of water sent streaming over the burning planks. Then the door was slammed shut before the infuriated redskins had much idea of what was taking place, the bar dropped into its sockets, and the whites were permitted to breathe easier, now that all immediate danger from fire was past.
There followed some scattered volleys from the savages; but after a time a silence fell; and some distance away camp-fires began to sparkle in the forest.
“They’ve withdrawn for a while at least,” spoke Mr. Curley. “They will eat their meat at the fires and the cunning ones among them will arrange another plan of attack.”
Oliver and his friends during this lull gathered at one end of the cabin.
“It seems to me,” said young Barclay, “that the Indians mean to take this house one way or another. Even if they can’t capture it by attack they can starve us out.”
Eph Taylor nodded his head.