Defending the Island

careful watch was kept the Abenakis could not leave the harbor island secretly; but he also realized that if the clouds should gath

advanced foolishly, understanding that the white people knew full well what they were about, and after this first repulse

yet but three persons-Susan, Luke, and himself-could be depended upon to man the walls. The others would have served faithfu

r of his companions, the fear in his heart that the enemy

de the palisade," he said, unconsciously giving words to his thoughts, and he

can the rest of us be ex

e asked, in turn, not minded to answe

so soundly that it is a pity to awaken him, and

t been here t

and there is no reason why you should remain awake when

take the biggest end, and I don't fancy

t since I can't, I shall stay here, therefore you

ld have a full view of the harbor, and, seeing that he was not d

ng that the next time they come the

ing about that. I didn't

treating me no more than fairly if you

looked very dark to him, and, in order to avoid answering the

ll Luke when you are tired," He said, and before she could detain him he had s

olving upon those who were striving to hold the savages in check. Perhaps she magnified the pain of her wound in orde

any signs of life from the harbor island, and unable to change her position, save by taking two or three paces to the righ

ch all night, Sue! You the same as prom

need of your coming up here, for now that it is daylight

Mark replied, as he literally forced the girl to descend, and a

he hens were allowed to stray here or there at will, and, save for the sentinels on the palisade

to keep her eyes fixed constantly on the harbor island, without heeding what might be happening around her, as t

omen feared to alarm the younger children, and the three to whom the defence of the island had been comm

l had had come to an end, and Mistress Harding peremptorily insisted on her going

e of missiles being smaller than that of powder, and Mark and L

day," the elder lad said, "and while Ellen is standing watch it would

no desire for conversation, and Mark did not urge him to talk, for the s

ich could be done to strengthen the palisade, as, for example, driving stakes at the foot of su

icket for material; but while Ellen remained on watch to give the alarm, in case she s

r of the dwellings, that the flock of fourteen sheep came i

d by the enemy, for it might be a difficult task to replace them, and without th

s, the lads had little trouble in getting the animals within the stocka

w, and unless the Abenakis get inside,

our store of hay," Luke suggested,

o any very great harm to let them go hungry now and then. It'

ing the sheep into the stockade, for at that moment a cry from

hat fishermen are coming here, and

small schooner, coming as if from the mainland on th

s to be heard by the inmates of the house, all of whom came sw

emberton asked, sharply, and Luk

hose on board must soon know tha

e harbor island! The crew should be warned,

speaking he darted out of the stockade, running with all speed to the sho

l cries, and the little party ran swiftly along the beach until they were come to the ne

s deck, and that their signals had been seen seeme

of Mark, when the strangers failed to pay any heed to the gestures of wa

n idea had entered Mark's mind before his mother spoke, but yet he hesitated to act upon he

an," Susan said, thoughtfully. "There must be

as he observed the truth of what Susan had said. "So

though, so long as she carries a crew of white people. Why don't we pull out to her, Mark? Look, she

as three canoes, filled with savages

poor people!" Mistress Pemberton cried, in an agony of grief, while an expression o

to aid the men?" Mistress Har

essel outnumber the Abenakis three to one, and I'm afraid

noes approached the vessel, and then, when the Indians clambered aboard without any attempt being made t

ermen," Mistress Pemberton said to

called upon to defend ourselves against Indians onl

ttack women and children!" Mistress H

rom those aboard of the last vessel they spoke with? They were told that when Master P

aid the savages against us?" and

e are murdered it will be because his agents have decided upon it in rev

ore facing this new and unexpected peril, suppose we set do

stated that a body of Frenchmen, in conjunction with the Indians of the rivers St. John, Penobscot, and probably Passamaq

and the sloop Massachusetts. Arriving, he threw these auxiliaries with some warlike stores into the fort at a most fortunate junc

numbers, nor any threats, communicated to the fort by a captive woman, whom they purposely permitted to escape hither, occasion the least alarm.

French assisted by the Indians of several tribes, were trying to do, otherwise their despair would have b

en done by Argall to the French missionaries; but certain it was that all the settlements on t

until there was no longer any question but that the number of their enemies had been largely inc

hand, it is not probable the savages will be allowed to murder their

aptives. Do you remember the story father tells of Falmouth, when these same Frenchmen pledged their words o

istress Harding cried, helplessly, and Susan stepped

ng willingly to meet the scalping-knife or the tomahawk. It may be that thos

nd Mistress Pemberton laid her hand on Mark's shoulder as if in pride because of the courage he displayed. "We will do battl

savages, and now let us see what shall be done since they have had such a large reinforcement. Certain it is that

he gateway where a close watch might be kept over both the island and the vessel, she

ly inadequate, leaving them to the mercy of the French and Indians, who were making the attack simply because the King of Engl

have grown timorous when she asked, while she and

ope we can hold back such a force

the last, rather than give over our mothers and you girls

her hand on his shoulder with a loving gesture. "You will always be brave and true;

must stand up like images, fighting until we are destroyed. Anything is better than

ch, as yet, we have neglected, that can be done. Our mothers depend on you, as do I, which

fraid of my own ideas. If I make a mistake, it may

of it, for you are best fitted to act the part of leader, and

d the question in an angry tone, as if expecting she wou

herwise after all the stories w

e must

lls, than to have them fall unharmed into the hands of those who await us there," and she m

a much shorter time if you, or Luke, or

our fathers do not come

to meet their death. Two more men on the stockade would not greatly prolong the s

wounded again, will you see to it tha

a terrible one when I turn my musket

e last you will see that the

island, for I believe death is more pleasant than can be life in the h

a last farewell, and Mark, trying to assume a car

il the attack is made, as we can count it will be this night, and then our mothers must charge the muskets. Remember, Sue dear, that I haven't

ntry, whose cause was as just as ours, have been

decent English people should, we'll seem to be brave, however

places of their parents, began that vigil whic

the children should remain in the dwelling until the moment came when they could be of assistance in loading the w

nt toward the Pemberton house. "We shall fight until the last, and, if God is kind, it may be we can hold the villains in che

to Co