CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
It was the scouts coming back from different directions, with the samereport that no enemy was in sight, though they had penetrated in one ortwo instances right to the forest.
"Isn't a false alarm, is it, Captain Bruton?" said one of the newersettlers. "Two of us went right to your little plantation."
"Well?" said my father, eagerly.
"Well, sir, you were not at home, so we did what I hope you approve of--treated ourselves as you in your hospitality would have treated us. Wesat down, ate and drank, and after we were refreshed we came back, butwe saw no enemy."
I felt hot and cold with indignation as I listened to this man'scavalier treatment of my father, and to see that many of those presentwere ready to join this scout in believing it to be a false alarm.
"I am glad, sir, that you have returned in safety to make your report,"said my father, coldly.
"Oh, come, Winters," said Colonel Preston, warmly, "if you had seenthose boats bristling with arrows you would not think our friend Brutonhad been crying wolf."
"And if he will go into our temporary hospital he will see one of thewounded lying there seriously injured."
"But I do not want to cast doubts on Captain Bruton's report."
"Then why did you try, sir?" I said hotly. "Ask the doctor if it was asham wound from an arrow that I got in my leg."
"George!" said my father, sternly, "remember what you are."
"I do, father," I said vehemently; "but this man seemed to think you hadnot spoken the truth."
"No, no," said the settler, flushing up, "only that he might have beendeceived."
"I only wish you had been tied up for hours to a tree as I was, sir," Isaid, "expecting to be killed by the Indians. I believe even now youcan't believe it is true."
"Hush!" said my father, sternly. "I'm afraid, gentlemen, that thoughnothing has been seen of them, the Indians are hiding in the forest,ready to descend upon us at what they consider a favourable opportunity,and I beg, I implore, for your own sakes--for the sake of all whom youhold dear, not to treat what I have said as being exaggerated."
"We shall not, Bruton," said the General firmly, after standinglistening in silence all through. "I have plenty of faith in my youngfriend, your son, and you may rest assured that I am not going to treatwhat has taken place as a false alarm. Gentlemen, to your posts.Colonel Preston, the gate must be closed at once, and every other manwill remain under arms till ten to-night, when the second half willrelieve them. Gentlemen, I consider that the siege has begun."
The evening came in dark and gloomy, and night fell as if almost atonce. All was still but the faintly-heard lapping of the water on thestrand, and the customary croaking and hollow bellowing from the forest;and it seemed to me, feverish and ill at ease now, that a feeling of awehad come upon the occupants of the enclosure, who were seated about ingroups of families, discussing their strange positions in whispers, andwaiting at the first alarm to obey the General's command, and takeshelter in the great block of wooden buildings constituting the fort--abuilding which had been gradually enlarged as the settlement hadincreased, so that, in addition to shelter and protection, there mightbe ample room for magazines, armoury, and stores.
I was seated with Pomp and my father, where we had partaken of the foodthat had been served out, thinking of my bed at home, and of how dearlyI would have liked to be lying there instead of upon the hard ground,when an alarm was given, and the officers, my father amongst them,hurried up to the fort to ascend to the roof, and watch the glow whichhad suddenly begun to appear in the southwest.
I had followed my father and stood by him, as I heard the General saysharply, in answer to a remark made by some one of those present, uponwhose faces the faint glow was reflected--
"Forest fire, sir? No; I am afraid it is--"
"My house, gentlemen," said my father, calmly. "The attack has begun."
A dead silence followed my father's words, and it was almost a minutebefore the General said gravely--
"Yes, Bruton, the attack has begun, and in a way I dreaded. Well, wemust beat it off. I am sorry that your pleasant home should be one ofthe first to fall a victim to the enemy; but as it was built up, so itcan be built up again. There will be plenty of willing hands to helpone of our most trusty brothers."
A murmur of warm assent followed this remark, and then the General spokeagain.
"Is Mr Winters here?" he said.
"Yes, General."
"What have you to say, sir, now?"
"That I beg Captain Bruton's pardon, sir; and that I will be one of thefirst to help restore his house, if it please God I live through thetrouble that is to come."
"Thank you, Mr Winters," said my father, quietly. "If we are staunchto each other I have no fear for the result."
"Look--look!" came in a low murmur, and my heart sank, for it seemed sopiteous to see the bright glare rising over the forest, as the poorhouse over which so much pains had been taken seemed, in spite of thedistance, to be sending up wreath after wreath of golden smoke, whilefor a short time there was a ruddy light spreading high up into the sky.
But it all faded out as rapidly as it had arisen, and I went down intothe enclosure, to stumble soon after upon Morgan, who said grimly--
"Didn't think after that soaking, look you, she would have burnt out soquick, Master George."
"Oh, don't talk about it, Morgan," I said. "There, I must lie down now;I am too weak and tired to stand."
"Come this way then, my lad, and lean on me," he said gently; and hehelped me to where I could see something white lying on the ground.
It was the great bundle Sarah had made, and close by it lay Pomp fastasleep.
"Burned so quickly after the soaking it had had," seemed to be buzzingin my brain, and the ruddy glow flashed up before my eyes once more; butonly in imagination, for I believe that as my head touched that greatsoft bundle, regardless of danger from tomahawk or arrow, I went offfast asleep, and slept on hour after hour, nor opened my eyes again tillit was broad day.
Mass' George: A Boy's Adventures in the Old Savannah Page 33