His anxiety was now
worked up to the highest possible pitch, for he feared,
notwithstanding his success so far, that something might
yet occur to defeat his purpose, and thus peril not only
his own life, but the lives of the whole of the party
below. Three minutes he remained in this trying position
of uncertainty, which seemed to him as so many hours.
Presently, however, the Indian on the roof, having
evidently accomplished his task, and believing from the
silence that had for some time pervaded around, that no
one was near him, spoke in a low tone to his companions,
who now cautiously crept towards the ladder.
This was the moment for action. The Virginian, who,
although expecting this, had watched their movements with
aching interest, now summoned his whole strength, and
while the first savage below was upon the ladder, pushed
his musket with such violence against the sole, that it
carried it rapidly over the corner of the house, before
the Indian could find presence of mind to throw himself
upon the roof--a sudden backward jerk of the weapon
liberated the bayonet, the extreme point of which only
had entered the wood, and as the Virginian withdrew this,
he could distinctly see the unfortunate savages fall
headlong from the top of the ladder, uttering, as both
descended, a fearful cry of dismay, which was responded
to by fierce yells from the lips of their companions,
who hastened to their succor.
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