While the Indian, who finding, evidently, that the orifice
he had made in the roof was not yet large enough for his
purpose, had dropped the incised portion of the hide,
and was again using his knife; the Virginian, stooping
slightly at the off-side of the window, ascertained that
the feet of the former were resting on one of the upper
steps of the ladder. This was what he desired, and all
he now wanted was a hard, flat substance to fasten on
the point of his bayonet. After reflecting vainly for a
few moments how this was to be attained, he suddenly
bethought him of his thick-soled ammunition-boots. Removing
one of these without noise, he pierced the inner leather,
by pressing it firmly against the point of the bayonet,
so as to secure without allowing it to pass through.
Then, cautiously protruding his musket from the opening,
he slowly advanced it, until the sole of the boot touched
the frame of the ladder, not two feet under the round on
which the Indian stood. Here for a moment he allowed the
barrel, concealed by the low depending eaves, to rest
against the jamb of the aperture.
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