Defending the Island

real fury. The electrical portion of the tempest appeared to have passed away, leaving the raging wind and pe

be a summer gale had developed into a furious northeast storm,

dry with thirst, and now that water is to be had in abundance, a

way through the roof," Mistress Pemberton said as if

spring for a full bucket, and when it has been strained

tside," Mistress Harding said, becoming timorous

illed with something other than powder," Mark replied with a laugh, and then he unbarred the door,

in order to close the door while Mark was absent, and when he returned with a brimming bucket

drops from his face. "We'll pray that the Future Hopes is in a snug harbor,

in this tempest?" Mistress Pemberton asked, more anxious now for the s

at we would have been prepared for it. I noticed the clouds gathering, but at the time thought only that it would be our misfortune, since we could not keep watch of th

essel under way," Mistress Pemberton said as if think

had been built that can ride at anchor to the eastward of the brook while the wind is so heavy. It would have be

e they are yet

y'd try to get on board, and that could have been don

denly by what sounded like the groaning of a human being in deepest d

other, for it was impossible to see anything in that p

e, and Mark, forcing himself to beat down the

, mother? Some one here must be

re with me," Ellen s

re with

ss Pemberton said, as she groped around for the scanty store

int on the tinder, and as the feeble flame of the candle flickered and flared in the wind which made its way through t

a sudden thought had come to her. "One of those whom you wounded is lying

the succor of one who, a short hour previous, was bent on killing him,

what you do; we have heard that the Indians often mak

o very much mischief," Mark replied as he unfastened the bar, waiting only long enough for Luke and Susan to ge

he spoke to someone, and then all was still, save for th

I've got a Frenchman here, w

m with an apparently lifeless body in his arms, while Mistress Pemberton shi

not the fact that the water was running f

fore them; but with gentle care set about ministering to h

of saving the life which had so nearly been taken by one of their number to

the fury of the tempest so long, could not be understood. He had an ugly-looking wound in the thigh, and

" she said, as she dressed the wounds to the best of h

even if we have already done our best to kill him, and then he'll know what it is to have coals of fire heaped o

ministered to the sufferer, and before mor

ish language to make them understand him, an

lied. "Now you are no longer a soldier, striving to do us grievous injury, but a suffering fellow

ok the good woman in the face, and after a time Mark ques

because of the difficulty experienced

be possible for those on the inside to see him, immediately after which he lost consciousness. During a long while he remained as if dead, and it is probable that the deluge of rain served to revive him afte

and then Mark, after cautioning the remainder of the family to stay inside the dwelling unless they hea

e to distinguish objects at any great distance. He had, in the immediate vicinity

he enemy might have marched shoulder to shoulder. Trees were uprooted; the small boat, which had been drawn

ed was due, doubtless, to the thicket in the rear which

nderstood that if any of the Frenchmen remained on the island they would

upon his face until it became necessary to shield his eyes in order to see anything twenty paces distant; but he strugg

there; but he was not quite prepared for that which met his gaze when he wa

ged, and again rising high in the air until the greater portion of the planking could be seen. Clinging to this restless wreck were six or ei

fitted to withstand almost any buffeting of wave or wind, Mark became convinced that the wreck was

reat from the stockade, the wild tossing of the craft as the waves were beginning to rise induced them to let go every anchor on board,

in getting on board, the little craft must have been literally blown down, unt

and, and that some of those who tried to save themselves by clinging to the hu

at the very time when it seemed as if all hope of succor was vain, the enem

as if nearly exhausted and imploring him to help them, Mark forgot that but a few hours previous these s

ed, and when the women and children hastened outside, believin

live. It is for us to help them if we can. There should be enough of us here to drag our

fering which had been endured because of these men who were now so near dea

; but the task was finally accomplished, and then many moments were spent trying to find the oar

and his brother were ready to set off on their mission of mercy, and then it was an op

ch was raging, as they watched with anxious eyes the efforts of the lads. They had set out to

nd, otherwise the task could never have been accomplished, and not until b

small boat could she be taken sufficiently near the wreck to permit of a rescue, and then it was necessary to ha

athered at one point, as if counting on leaping aboar

a time. Lay back there you fellows who are

ing that he was in the greatest need of help, and

people, we'll leave the whole boiling

ck half an hour longer," a man cried, piteously.

n the worst shape. Stand back!" the lad added, as four men made ready to seize the small boat at

ed, and otherwise handling his small craft in a sailorly fashion, Mark succ

hile the storm was so furious, and the lads pulled shorewar

when the shipwrecked men had been set ashore they were helped toward the stockade by the women

quite as desperately as before, and the day was fully hal

realize the possible danger. These eight men, after having recovered, might easily take possession of the stockade, and Mark was inclined to believe th

e out of the house, which had much the appearance of a ho

's house. The greater portion of the things have been taken from ther

ding them as prisoners?"

er all that has happened, I wouldn't believe in any promises tha

whom appears t

ving recovered; but it may be a differ

ere can be any on

d on burying the bodies which have been washed ashore, and while we are at that work you had better g

and, that having been done, the two lads began transforming the Harding house into a prison, which last was done by fastening all the shutters and one of the

he rescued party exactly what it was his purpose to do, explaining t

t if we find one of you attempting to leave the building, which will be given over t

ght be given by those who had saved them from death, and Mark, armed wi

ht, and to such end Luke was stationed at the front of the building, where, through a

furniture piled up as a barricade had been put in place, and Mary and Ellen were instructed to watch him, not with the idea that he might try to

ght after the besieged were turned jailers was as calm and peaceful as

evening, when Susan took his place, and shortly after

re commanded; but Mark would not put faith in them, and kept his watch as if

s, until a new day had come, and then as he gazed across the waters watching for the sun to

nmate of the Pemberton house was astir, she swung to her anchor close insid

, therefore the Future Hopes scudded before the wind during the four and twenty

Desert so bravely against the combined attacks of French and Indians; but historians make no further mention of th

n and Harding carried to the fort eight Frenchmen as prisoners, and that

obscot Bay near where the town of Camden now stands, and it is reasonable to infer th

E

riber's

ords, odd usages and other th

t is spelled throughout,

ke this: "...otherwise the defences would not be being str

one" appear to be

t should probably be "when": "...relieved from g

..the gate was barred on the inside, and M

I suspect it is just time period usage. "...

e book: "...there's no show of our

ord "reechoed" is a small

one" appear to be

period usage: "...uncle heard from

e a misprint of "resentments". "...gave

one" appear to be

a small letter "e" with diaeresis. It is al

book: "...shake the very earth, and o

a misprint for "great". "...the

one" appear to be

o be time period usage: ".

ranscribe