The Big Brother | Page 5

carry it out.
When the storming party came, the people in the fort were ready for it.
Counting out the women and children, their numbers were not large,
but they were a brave and determined set of men and boys, who knew
very well in what kind of a struggle they were engaged. They reserved
their fire until the Indians were within thirty yards of the fort, and then
delivered it as rapidly as they could, taking care to waste none of it by
random or careless shooting. The fort consisted, as all the border
fortifications did, of a simple stockade, inside of which was a
block-house for the protection of the women and children, and designed
also as a sort of "last ditch," in which a desperate resistance could be
made, even after the fort had been carried. The stockade was made of
the trunks of pine-trees set on end in the ground, close together, but
pierced at intervals with port-holes, through which the men of the
garrison could fire. Such a stockade afforded an excellent protection
against the bullets and the arrows of the Indians, and gave its defenders
a great advantage over the assailing force, which must, of course, be
exposed to a galling fire from the men behind the barriers. As the
stockade was about fifteen feet high, climbing over it was almost
wholly out of the question, and the only way to take the fort was to rush
upon it with fence rails, stop up the port-holes immediately in front,
and keep so close to the stockade as to escape the fire from points to the
right and left, while engaged in cutting down the timber barrier. If the
Indians could do this, their superior numbers would enable them to rush
in through the opening thus made, and then the block-house would be

the only refuge left to the white people. The block-house was a
building made of very large timbers, hewed square, laid close upon
each other and notched to an exact fit at the ends. It had but one
entrance, and that was near the top. This could be reached only by a
ladder, and should the Indians gain access to the fort, the whites would
retire, fighting, to this building, and when all were in, the ladder would
be drawn in after them. From the port-holes of the block-house a fierce
fire could be delivered, and as the square timbers were not easily set on
fire, a body of Indians must be very determined indeed, if they
succeeded in taking or destroying a block-house. At Fort Mims,
however, they had done so, burning the house over the heads of the
inmates.
The reader will understand, from this description of the fort, how
possible it was for the people within it to withstand a very determined
attack, and to inflict heavy loss upon the savages, without suffering
much in their turn. Francis's men charged furiously upon the silent
stockade, but were sent reeling back as soon as they had come near
enough for the riflemen within to fire with absolute accuracy of aim.
Then the second body, under Francis himself, charged, but with no
better success. A pause followed, and another charge was made just
before nightfall.
This time some of the savages succeeded in reaching the stockade and
stopping up some of the port-holes. They cut down a part of the pickets
too, and had their friends charged again at once, the fort would
undoubtedly have been carried. As it was, Francis saw fit to draw off
his men, for the time at least, and retire beyond the hill. What was now
to be done? The attack had been repulsed, but it might be renewed at
any moment. The Indians had suffered considerably, while the
casualties within the fort were limited to the loss of one man and one
boy. But the obstinate determination of Francis was well known, and it
was certain that he had not finally abandoned his purpose of taking the
little fort. He had already demonstrated his ability to carry the place,
and it was, at the least, likely that he would come again within
twenty-four hours, probably with a larger force, and should he do so,
the little garrison was not in condition to repel his attack. To remain in

the fort, therefore, was certain destruction; but the country was full of
savages, and to attempt a march to Fort Glass, fifteen miles away,
which was the nearest available place, the other forts being difficult to
reach, was felt to be almost equally hazardous. A council was held, and
it was finally determined that the perilous march to Fort Glass must be
undertaken at all hazards. Accordingly, not long after nightfall the
whole garrison, men, women and children, stealthily