18 FRONTIER FORTS AND SETTLEMENTS. [1763, June. 



They then went to a neighboring storehouse, pulled 

 out some of the foundation stones, and got into the 

 cellar ; whence, by knocking away one or two planks 

 immediately above the sill of the building, they 

 could fire on the garrison in perfect safety, being 

 below the range of shot from the loopholes of the 

 blockhouse, which was not ten yards distant. Here 

 they remained some hours, making their prepara- 

 tions, while the garrison waited in suspense, cooped 

 up in their wooden citadel. Towards evening, they 

 opened fire, and shot such a number of burning 

 arrows against the side and roof of the blockhouse, 

 that three several times it was in flames. But the 

 men worked desperately, and each time the fire was 

 extinguished. A fourth time the alarm was given ; 

 and now the men on the roof came down in de- 

 spair, crying out that they could not extinguish it, 

 and calling on their ofiicer for God's sake to let 

 them leave the building, or they should all be burnt 

 alive. Price behaved with great spirit. '' We 

 must fight as long as we can, and then die to- 

 gether," was his answer to the entreaties of his 

 disheartened men.^ But he could not revive their 

 drooping courage, and meanwhile the fire spread 

 beyond all hope of mastering it. They implored 

 him to let them go, and at length the brave young 

 ofiicer told them to save themselves if they could. 

 It was time, for they were sufi'ocating in their burn- 

 ing prison. There was a narrow window in the 

 back of the blockhouse, through which, with the 



1 Record of Court of Inquiry, Evidence of Corporal Fisher, The state- 

 ment is supported by all the rest of the men examined. 



