With the end of the tumult in the orchard, the sounds of strife ceased in
all the valley. Though conscious of the success of their enemies, the men
in the fort saw the certainty of destruction, not only to themselves, but
to those feeble ones whom they should be compelled to leave without a
sufficient defence, were they to attempt a sortie to that distance from
their works. They were therefore compelled to remain passive and grave
spectators of an evil they had not the means to avert.
Chapter XXIV.
"Were such things here, as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten of the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?"
Macbeth.
An hour later presented a different scene. Bands of the enemy, that in
civilized warfare would be called parties of observation, lingered in the
skirts of the forest nearest to the village; and the settlers still stood
to their arms, posted among the buildings, or maintaining their array at
the foot of the palisadoes. Though the toil of securing the valuables
continued, it was evident that, as the first terrors of alarm had
disappeared, the owners of the hamlet began to regain some assurance in
their ability to make it good against their enemies.
Pages:
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538