the midday sun
Had he been on his feet , he must have been observed by anyone in the position of the savage that had fired the shot which was so well-nigh fatal , but , while so close to the floor , he would not be seen by any Comanche unless he was quite close to the window . The redskin might and might not be there : _ that _ risk must be taken , or the guns would have to be left alone for the time . Mrs. Shirril was more disturbed than ever , for she knew as well as did her husband the risk he ran , but she knew , too , that , when he once decided to do a thing , it was idle to seek to restrain him . The burning wood threw an illumination through the room which rendered any other light unnecessary , and the captain could not have been in clearer view had the midday sun been shining . Nevertheless he crept slowly forward , until in front of the fireplace . Then he paused to consider which of two methods he had in mind was the better for obtaining the weapons . The Comanches were still circling back and forth on the outside , uttering their whoops and firing their guns at intervals , though the latter consisted of blind shooting , and was meant to terrify the defenders , since none of the bullets found its way through either of the windows .