In the Midst of the Fight

When night came, there was but little change in affairs. The twinkling lights of their camp fires could be seen here and there through the leaves, and during all the hours of darkness we heard the yells and whoops which told that they were dancing and exulting over the expected victory.

Colonel Boone insisted that we need have no fear they would make any real attack while it was dark, so, for the first time since morning, we made an attempt to satisfy our hunger. The smaller children had carried water from the spring to those who were on duty, and, therefore, we had not suffered from thirst. Two of the sheep had been killed, lessening the number of our flock to fifteen, and every man was given as much meat as he needed, but the women and children ate sparingly.

Billy showed himself a man on that day, and Colonel Callaway plainly told him he not only had done a man's work, but should be counted among the real defenders of the fort.

Jemima came into our cabin that evening, and mother told us we must go to sleep while there was a chance; we did our best, but whenever my eyelids would close from weariness, they opened very suddenly again as the yelling from the Indian camp fires burst out afresh.