midnight
These two men , joined with the two others that had been left in charge were to bring the canoes round the point and enter the river . It would take them the whole night to effect this , and at sunrise they would attack and destroy the front door with their tomahawks . With the darkness of night , a certain degree of anxiety came over us , for we knew not what devilish plan the Indians might hit upon ; I placed sentries in every corner of the block-house , and we waited in silence ; while our enemies , having lighted a large fire , cooked their victuals , and though we could not hear the import of their words , it was evident that they considered the post as in their power . Half of them , however , laid down to sleep , and towards midnight the stillness was uninterrupted by any sound , whilst their half-burnt logs ceased to throw up their bright flames . Knowing how busy we should be in the morning , I thought that till then I could not do better than refresh myself by a few hours ' repose ; I was mistaken . I had scarcely closed my eyes , when I heard the dull regular noise of the axe upon trees . I looked cautiously ; the sounds proceeded from the distance , and upon the shores of the river , and behind the camp of the savages , dark forms were moving in every direction , and we at last discovered that the Umbiquas were making ladders to scale the upper doors of our little towers .