“I believe he is trying hard to do so; but the savages are refusing to recognize his authority. We have in the fort upwards of thirty women and children, and fourteen men and boys, none of whom dare stray outside the stockade lest the red brutes murder them. Unless something can be done speedily, there is no question in my mind but that we will all be massacred. John Butler has already admitted to me what I knew full well, that he is unable to hold in check his wolfish followers, and because of such fact, proposes to depart immediately with such of his army as yet obey his commands.” “How many of the red snakes will likely remain behind?” Master Bartlett asked quickly. “Butler has told me that not less than two hundred have already broken away from him, therefore we can count on that number prowling around, with this fort as a headquarters, and in such case every white person remaining will stand in the shadow of death. I had despaired of being able to effect anything; but since knowing you are near at hand, it begins to seem as if we might be able to hold our own against them, if nothing more. On the day before John Butler marches away, I will make every effort to send all our people over the river, and believe he will aid me in the task, because of being unable to hold to the written promises he made before we surrendered.” “But our hiding-place will not give shelter to half the number you have named!” Giles March cried in dismay. “I was not counting that either you or they should remain in hiding,” the colonel replied, gravely. “You Minute Boys must take possession of the Wilkesbarre stockade at once, putting forth every effort to hold it for the coming of our people. That will give them a refuge until we can get help from the outside, as I believe will be possible when the situation is made known.” “Can you give any guess as to when the people may come across the river?” Master Bartlett asked. “I shall try to send a messenger the day before, therefore do you be on the lookout for him each morning shortly after sunrise. The greatest danger is that these savages who have thrown off all allegiance to John Butler will fall upon our helpless ones while they are crossing the river, or when they land, therefore you must be on your guard against anything of the kind.” “Will you not come with them?” I asked, and the colonel replied: “It is more likely I shall go with Butler, as the surest and quickest way of getting to such portion of the country from which aid may come to us.” Then he went on to advise what we should do to hold the stockade, and gave us to believe it might be possible to send by the women some addition to our store of ammunition, but dampened our spirits in no slight degree by stating that those who might join us would be without weapons, since it had been necessary to deliver up their arms when the fort was surrendered.