"The noon-day sun is scarce
brighter than this dreadful fire!"
"God is in the elements! His guiding hand shall point the way. But here we
may not tarry, for the flames are already on the shingles. Follow, and
speak not."
Ruth pressed the children to her side, and the whole party left the
apartment of the attic in a body. Their descent to a lower room was made
quickly, and without discovery. But here their leader paused, for the
state of things without was one to demand the utmost steadines of nerve,
and great reflection.
The Indians had by this time gained command of the whole of Mark
Heathcote's possessions, with the exception of the block-house; and as
their first act had been to apply the brand wherever it might be wanting,
the roar of the conflagration was now heard in every direction. The
discharge of muskets and the whoops of the combatants, however, while they
added to the horrible din of such a scene, proclaimed the unconquered
resolution of those who held the citadel. A window of the room they
occupied enabled the stranger to take a cautious survey of what was
passing without.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322