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Rh in which no musket shot broke, in which the besiegers themselves seemed stricken to inaction and fear. The burning cart had stopped at a short distance, its contents now  flaming prodigiously and, as it happened,  lending aid to those in the house, for by its light the Indians who pushed from the end  of the long pole appeared dimly in the background. A dozen shots burst together from the garrison and some of the Indians dropped  or staggered away. But others took their places and again the cart came forward. At his loophole David could now feel the warmth  of the flames. Suddenly what had escaped him before became apparent, which was that  back of the cart, so close it was a marvel  that their naked bodies were not scorched  by the heat, three savages pushed, trusting  to the bulk of the cart to escape detection. But now the flames had revealed them, and with a sudden fierce exultation David drew  down the muzzle of his gun until it covered  the breast of one who, not without a courage  worthy a better use, plodded in fair sight  behind the cart. The boy’s finger pressed upon the trigger, and then a leaping flame  threw its ruddy light full on the Indian’s  countenance and David’s finger relaxed. For