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Show Page 193 The Indian was crouching by the potter's shed, and as Richard ran past, the man raised his iron spade and brought it crashing down upon Richard's head. Richard dropped, whereupon the Indian crushed his skull with a blow to the back of his head. The noise rose faintly to where I sat and my body began to shake as though I had taken a chill. My teeth rattled together in my head like a woodpecker beating staccato upon a tree trunk. Then I leaned over and vomited into my lap. At last I sank weakly against the tree, my shakes fading as my mind became numb, hopelessness and despair mixing into a bilious mass in my innards. Thunderous shouts near the fort made me raise my head with the hope of seeing the small contingent of armed men mustering without the gate. The gate was open and a few men were scuffling about on the ground, though I could see no Indians amongst them. Then three of the men laid hands on the fourth- John!-and dragged him, kicking and struggling, within the safety of the palisade. The curl of smoke at the Davidsons' had become a flame that gnawed away the roof and licked at the walls with a red-hot tongue. It was just as well they had stopped John from leaving the fort, for I knew in my heart it was too late for him to save Jane. The wind shifted, bringing to me the smell of burning wood-and roasting flesh. |