When the house was consumed, and its timbers had fallen into the
cellar a mass of burning brands, the space about the earthwork was
clear, and the rifles at its loop-holes kept the Indians close within
the out-building they had occupied since the attack began. No one
dared to show himself to the unerring marksmen, who watched every
movement.
For a long time silence reigned among the Indians. The whites,
however, felt sure that plans were being matured which meant disaster
to them.
At last these plans were revealed in a constant and rapid flight of
arrows, directed at a point between two loop-holes--a point which
could not be reached by the besieged, and where, if a considerable
collection of burning brands could be heaped against the logs,
between the earth and the eaves, the pine walls and rafters must take
fire. Walls and roof were too solid to be cut away, and water could
not reach the outside.
The defenders, when they realized what the result of a fire would be,
held a consultation, and decided that in the event of the fire getting
control of the fort they should retire into the covered way, block up
the entrance with earth, and remain there until help should arrive.
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