Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/286

270 about the village, they reported, sheltering in houses and barns. The garrison house still held out. They had seen Wampanoags, Wachoosetts, Quaboags, and a few River Indians. King Philip himself they had not descried. The Indians were armed with guns to about half their number. Many houses had already been burned and others were  then in flames. The Indians had been feasting and drinking, and much loot was assembled at the edge of the town. To reach the village it would be best to make a detour  toward the west and approach by a portion  wherein more houses had been burned and  where the enemy found fewer places of concealment. It might even be possible to attain to within a short distance of the garrison  before discovery since the besiegers seemed  to have set few guards on any side.

When twilight had well deepened, the guides set forth again and the dragoons got  to saddle and followed. After a half-mile march through forest paths they halted again. Eastward the darkening sky was red with the reflection of the burning village and shots  sounded incessantly. Now and then, since they had come to within no more than half  a mile of the settlement, a shrill, shuddering