Five minutes later, while the watchers still gazed through the crevices of the palisade, believing the enemy to be near at hand, a canoe was seen putting off from the shore, directly in front of the dwellings, and, after such delay as was necessary, in order to enable them to reach the other craft, all three divisions of the attacking force were headed for the harbor island. [Illustration: "You shall not have the smallest chicken inside this stockade!"] The first assault had been made, and successfully resisted. It now remained to be seen whether the Abenakis were willing to accept this as defeat, of if new tactics were to be tried. "They've gone!" Susan cried, joyfully. "We've beaten them!" "Yes child," her mother said, despondently, "and if they had not been sent by Frenchmen, we might believe the worst was over." "Do you think they'll come back, Mark?" the girl cried, as she leaped down from her post of duty. "Ay, that I do, Susan, and for the very reason aunt has given. If we could only know what the next move would be! I have heard father say that once upon a time the English drove away from Mount Desert French settlers, and now those who are stirring the Indians up to this kind of business are trying to make things even. We can count on having peace during the rest of the night, I believe, and the sooner you go into the house, were that wound of yours can be looked after, the better I shall be pleased." Indeed, there was no good reason why all the defenders, save one to stand guard behind the palisade, should not get such repose as might be had under the circumstances. A sentinel, on one of the hastily constructed platforms, could keep the harbor island well in view, therefore the savages would not be able to leave it secretly, and Mark proposed that he remain on duty for a certain time, while the others slept. "You shall have my place in a couple of hours, Luke." the lad said to his brother. "And when do I take my turn?" Susan asked, showing that she was determined to do a full share in the defence, regardless of her wound. "You may stand guard when it is time for Luke to lie down," Mark replied, intending that she should not be awakened if he could prevent it. CHAPTER III A DAY OF SUSPENSE While Mark stood on guard, able to see the entire broad expanse of water, thanks to the light of the moon, he knew that so long as a careful watch was kept the Abenakis could not leave the harbor island secretly; but he also realized that if the clouds should gather, or a fog settle down over the waters, then, of a verity, would they be at the mercy of a foe from whom no mercy could be expected.