BESIEGING THE LIGHT-HOUSE. 287 



a lonesome bein\ Ha! they've got a long pull to make yet, 

 before they can blow out that 'ere light." 



When the morning came, Tiger Tail with his band came back 

 to the island to complete his revenge, but Mike had already gone 

 down along the lee-shore during the night, and was waiting 

 for him. 



The Indians, well knowing who was in the tower, made no 

 secret of their approach. They landed just back of the house, and 

 walked around the tower, and in and out the little building where 

 Lou had so pleasantly lived. They entered the base of the tower, 

 looking with eager eyes toward the aperture that led to the lantern. 

 The sea was still rolling in its heavy billows ; as they toppled over 

 and danced in foam, the impetus of the waters behind them carried 

 them up to the base of the tower, when they climbed up like a 

 sheaf of white feathers, and then raced back down the sands to 

 gain force for another attempt. The outer side of the tower was 

 in a measure protected by the surf from the savages, and they con- 

 fined their attack to that side that looked out toward the little 

 island in the bay. 



In the dwelling-house they found implements to aid them in 

 their schemes. A beam was brought out and laid endwise against 

 the tower. On this an Indian walked up and drove a spike into 

 the plaster wall. He then mounted on the spike, the inclination 

 of the tower permitting him to lean inward and drive another at 

 such a height he could just reach it with his hand. With his 

 hatchet he then cut out a stepping-place for his foot, and mounted 

 on to the second spike, and then another, until he climbed up to 

 the overhanging ledge of the tower under the lantern. 



Thence throwing down his hatchet to his comrades he gradually 

 extended one hand put until he could feel the edge of the over- 

 hanging stone-work. Then reaching out the other hand to the 

 stone-work, and dropping his feet from their support, he swung 

 out pendent from his hands, and gradually raised himself up until 

 he could see into the lantern. 



Lou had been all this time not unconscious of the plots of her 

 foes, but she did not dare to overlook the eaves to see what they 

 were intending, and therefore could not tell precisely how the 



