We're scouts, we've been
up to the Indian country. We're half starved. Open and give us
food!"
"I don't believe you," replied Henry. "Honest people don't
come to my door at this time in the morning."
Then ensued a few moments of silence, although Paul, with his
vivid fancy, thought he heard whispering on the other side of the
door.
"Open!" cried Wyatt, "or we'll break your door down!" Henry said
nothing, nor did any of the others. They did not stir. The fire
crackled a little, but there was no other sound in the Standish
house. Presently they heard a slight noise outside, that of
light feet.
"They are going for a log with which to break the door in,"
whispered Henry. "They won't have to look far. The wood pile
isn't fifty feet away."
"An' then," said Shif'less Sol, "they won't have much left to do
but to take the scalps of women an' little children."
Every figure in the Standish house stiffened at the shiftless
one's significant words, and the light in the eyes grew sterner.
Henry went to the door, put his ear to the line where it joined
the wall, and listened.
"They've got their log," he said, "and in half a minute they'll
rush it against the door.
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