206 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



rattled about his ears. There were many shot-holes 

 through the palisades, which were covered with white 

 streaks where the splinters had been torn off by the 

 lead. The musketeers had spread themselves all 

 along the edge of the forest, and had learned by ex- 

 perience to keep close to their cover. We now and 

 then got a shot at them and killed four or five, but it 

 was slow work, and the time seemed very long. 



" Suddenly the Spaniards set up a loud shout. At 

 first we could not make out what was the matter, but 

 presently we heard a hissing and crackling on the 

 roof of the blockhouse. They had wrapped tow 

 round their cartridges, and one of the shots had set 

 light to the fir-boards. Just as we found it out, they 

 gave three more hurrahs, and we saw the dry planks 

 beginning to flame, and the fire to spread. 



" ' We must put that out, and at once,' said Asa, 

 'if we don't wish to be roasted alive. Some one 

 must get up the chimney with a bucket of water. 

 I'll go myself.' 



" ' Let me go, Asa,' said Righteous. 



" ' You stop here. It don't matter who goes. The 

 thing will be done in a minute.' 



" He put a chair on a table and got upon it, and 

 then seizing a bar which was fixed across the chim- 

 ney to hang hams upon, he drew himself up by his 

 arms, and Rachel handed him a pail of water. All 

 this time the flame was burning brighter, and the 

 Spaniards getting louder in their rejoicings and 



