The experience and
foresight of Hutter had left little to be done in these particulars;
still, several precautions suggested themselves to the young man,
who may be said to have studied the art of frontier warfare, through
the traditions and legends of the people among whom he had so long
lived. The distance between the castle and the nearest point on the
shore, prevented any apprehension on the subject of rifle-bullets
thrown from the land. The house was within musket-shot in one
sense, it was true, but aim was entirely out of the question, and
even Judith professed a perfect disregard of any danger from that
source. So long, then, as the party remained in possession of the
fortress, they were safe, unless their assailants could find the
means to come off and carry it by fire or storm, or by some of the
devices of Indian cunning and Indian treachery.
Against the first source of danger Hutter had made ample provision,
and the building itself, the bark roof excepted, was not very
combustible. The floor was scuttled in several places, and buckets
provided with ropes were in daily use, in readiness for any such
emergency. One of the girls could easily extinguish any fire that
might be lighted, provided it had not time to make much headway.
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