The Ottawa, upon being refused admittance within the stockade, had thrown aside all pretence of friendship or neutrality, and pressed his designs with a skill that even the defenders admired. The red skins crouched behind outbuildings, stumps and earth, and opened a hot fire which lasted for several hours. The garrison replied as best they could, but little injury was done on either side. Finally, a cannon was loaded to the muzzle with red hot slugs, and the bits of iron when discharged, set fire to the principal outbuildings. As the savages scampered for cover, the garrison picked off a number of the most conspicuous. Naturally the Indians made many attempts to burn the fort and other defences. If the flames were once fairly started, nothing could stay them, but the vigilance of the garrison night and day defeated every effort of this nature. Days and weeks passed without any marked change in the situation. The defenders held out grimly and the besiegers did not loose their grip. The supply of provisions began to run low, and, but for the help of the Canadians on the other side of the river, the garrison, who had long been on short rations, must have suffered for food. These friends came over at night, for had Pontiac known what they were doing, he would have stopped their practices and punished them. At the wharf near the fort lay two schooners, which gave much help in fighting off the besiegers. The critical situation of Detroit had become known to the authorities, who were expected to send reinforcements and supplies to the post by way of Lake Erie. These were so slow in coming, that Major Gladwyn sent one of the vessels to hasten them. Several days later, the lookout at Detroit called out the glad tidings that the supply boats were in sight. When all faces were glowing with expectation, an alarming thing was seen. In one of the boats, a white man was desperately fighting with an Indian. In each craft were a number of warriors, who were lying down, in order to reach the fort undiscovered. In fact, all the boats with their supplies had been captured by the redskins. It was a clever ruse. The schooner which had been sent to hurry the boats missed them, and sailed on to Niagara, while the relief expedition had coasted Lake Erie to the mouth of Detroit River. At that place they landed and were making camp, when they were attacked by a force of Wyandots, who killed many and took sixty prisoners. Two boats escaped with forty men, in one of which was Lieutenant Cuyler, in charge of the company. They made their way back to Niagara, while the prisoners were compelled to row to Detroit.