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