Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-28
@ THE~ REFUGEES
 Bu A. CONAN DOYLE,
 Author of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" COPYRIGHT. 1893. BY HARpER c BROTHERS

Blu A. CONAN DOYLE.
Author of "The Return of Sherlock Holme

valor, only four regained the shelter of the woods and those so torn and shat tered that they were spent men. Al ready the Indians had lost heavily, and this fresh disaster made them recon sider their plan of attack. Their fire gradually slackened.
 ''Is 1t possible that they are going to abandon the attack?" cried De Catinat joyously.
 But the willy Du Lhut shook his head. "A wolf would as soon leave half gnawed bone as an Iroquois such g prize as thls.''
 "But they have lost heavily"
 Aye. but not 80 heavily as ourselves In proportion to our numbers. They have lost fifty out of a thousand and we twenty out of threescore. No, no; they are holding council, and we shall soon hear from them again. But 1t may be some hours first, and If you will take my advice you will have an hours sleep. for you are not as can see by your eyes. as used to doing without 1t as am."
 De Catinat was indeed weary to the last pitch of human endurance. Amos Green and the seaman had already wrapped themselves fin their blankets and sunk to sleep under the shelter of the stockade. The soldier rushed up stairs to say few words of comfort to the trembling Adele, and then. throwing himself down upon couch. he slept the dreamless sleep of an ex hausted man. When at last he was aroused by fresh sputter of musketry fire from the woods the sun was al ready low in the heavens, and the mellow light of evening tinged the bare walls of the room. He sprang from his couch, seized his musket and rushed downstairs. The defenders were gathered at their loopholes once more, while Du Lhut, the seigneur and Amos Green were whispering eagerly together.
 "what is it. then? Are they coming onY he asked.
 ''rhey are up to some deviltry." said Du Lhut, peering out at the corner of the embrasure. "They are gathering thickly at the east fringe, and yet the firing comes from the north. lis not the Indian way to attack across the open, and yet, if they think help Is coming from the fort they might ven ture."
 "The wood in front of us is alive with them," said Amos. "They are as busy as beavers among the underwood"
 Perhaps they are going to attack from this side and cover the attack by a fire from the flank"
 "That is what think" cried the seigneur. Bring the spare guns up here and all the men except five for each side"
 The words were hardly oxt of his mouth when a shrill yell rose from the wood, and in an instant a cloud of warriors burst out and charged across the open, bowling. springing and way ing their guns and tomahawks in the air. Some of those in front bore canoes between them. and as they reached the stockade they planted them against 1t and swarmed up them as if they had been scaling ladders. Others fired through the embrasures and loopholes. the muzzles of their guns touching those of the defenders, while others again sprang uiaided on to the tops Of the palisades and jumped fearlessly down upon the inner side. The Cana- dians fired while they had time to load. and then, clubbing their muskets, they smashed furiously at every red head which showed above the rails.
 The din within the stockade was in- fernaI, the shouts and cries Of the French, the whooping of the savages and the terrified screaming of the frightened wofhen blending into one dreadful uproar. above which could be heard the high. shrill voice of the old salgneur imploring his. censitaires to stand fast. With Du Lhut. Amos, De Catinat and Ephraim Savage. he was ever in the forefront of the defense. So desperately did they fight. the sword and musket butt outreachlng the toma- hawk. that though at one time fifty Iro- ouois were over the palisades they had slain or driven back nearly all of them. when fresh wave burst suddenly over the south face. which had been stripped of its defenders. Du Lhut saw in an Instant that the inclosure was lost and that only one thing could save the house.
 Hold them for an instant- he screamed. and. rushing at the brass gun. be struck his flint and steel and fired 1t strnight into the thick of the savagcs. Then. as they recoiled for an instant. he stuck a nall Into the touch hole and drove 1t home with . blow from the butt of his gun Dashing across the yard. he spiked the gun at the other corner and was back at the door as the remnants of the garrison were hurled against 1t by the rush of fbe assailants. The Canadians darted in and swung the ponderous mass of wood into position. breaking the leg of the foremost warrior who had striven to follow them Then for an instant they had time for breathing and for counsel
 CHAPTER xxIIL
 @ UT tbeir czss vas . vsry evii oue. Had the guns ben Isst.